The study critiqued in this report consisted of descriptive (post hoc) research examining for relationships between dietary behaviors and calcium intake in a sample of Asians with self-perceived Lactose Intolerance (LI). Also, degree of LI was examined for differences as a function of differences in gender and in the length of time subjects had been residents of the United States.
Before discussing the specifics of the study, there is one point that must be made regarding its overall presentation; this because the presentation contributes to understanding what was done in the research and what was not done. In this regard, what needs to be noted is that, in general, the thesis contained numerous grammatical problems. Some examples of these problems are presented below:
Example 1 - (Page vii): "The purpose of this study was to determine the behavior of a group of Asians with self-perceived lactose intolerance (LI) in regards to knowledge of LI, behavior relating to LI, diary products, dietary compensations through the use of alternative dairy products, and calcium intake using a questionnaire designed by the researcher."
Example 2 - "The age of onset of LI varies among groups with individuals and among various dietary practices..."
Example 3 - "Another study...found that lactase activity was highest in healthy in Chinese children two years old or younger."
The poor quality of narrative such as is illustrated in the foregoing examples was consistent throughout the study and the result was that it made it difficult to thoroughly understand the research, especially in those areas where technical specificity and precision were important where "technical specificity" refers to statements describing the technical aspects of the research such as methods, procedures, and operational definitions. Therefore, the overall review consists of a critique of a study where the information obtained and presented was, at best, sketchily...