title: Cooking classes outperform cooking demonstrations for college sophomores.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if cooking classes improve subjects' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward cooking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of outcomes of 2 treatment groups (demonstration vs hands-on cooking classes) using pre- and posttests.
  
  
  METHODS
  University cooking laboratories.
  
  
  METHODS
  First-semester sophomores (n = 65) who were 25% male with a mean age of 19.7 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention group (n = 33) attended 4 2-hour cooking classes, based on Social Learning Theory, and a supermarket tour. The demonstration group (n = 32) attended a cooking demonstration. Subjects completed 6 surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding cooking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive statistics were used to compare demographic variables. Analysis of covariance and chi-square analyses were used to compare outcome variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis revealed no gender differences. Participants displayed positive shifts on attitude scales. The intervention group had a pattern of larger positive shifts (0.4-0.7 vs 0.1-0.5 gain), some of which were statistically significant. Participants displayed positive, but not statistically significant, shifts in knowledge and some behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention group experienced more statistically significant gains in attitudes and appeared to have a better pattern of gains in cooking-related knowledge and behaviors. Given limited resources, demonstration cooking classes could reach larger audiences in varied settings, but the impact would likely be weaker than that of cooking classes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Garry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Auld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*