On methods of access to the structure of social representations: the example of Europe.

The aim of this study is to identify the logic behind a range of statistical methods used to reveal the structure of social representations. Subjects (N = 317) were asked to answer the following question: "For each category of European person, please indicate which other European he would most like to have contact with". The results of the similarity analysis lead us to the conclusion that there is an ethnocentric bias, and reveal the central factor of the representation. The representation obtained by factorial correspondence analysis seems closer to current reality and enables us to understand the divisions that have structured Europe and remained embedded in the subjects. Thus, the choice of analytical method is not merely anecdotal, given that representations obtained from the same data can vary immensely.

On methods of access to the structure of social representations: the example of Europe

The aim of this study is to identify the logic behind a range of statistical methods used to reveal the structure of social representations. Subjects (N= 317) were asked to answer the following question: «For each category of European person, please indicate which other European he would most like to have contact with». The results of the similarity analysis lead us to the conclusion that there is an ethnocentric bias, and reveal the central factor of the representation. The representation obtained by factorial correspondence analysis seems closer to current reality and enables us to understand the divisions that have structured Europe and remained embedded in the subjects. Thus, the choice of analytical method is not merely anecdotal, given that representations obtained from the same data can vary immensely (AU)

El objetivo de este estudio es identificar la lógica detrás de una serie de métodos estadísticos utilizados para revelar la estructura de las representaciones sociales. Se solicitó a un número de sujetos (n = 317) responder a la pregunta siguiente: «Para cada categoría de europeo, por favor indique con qué otros europeos le gustaría tener contacto». Los resultados de los análisis de similitud nos llevan a la conclusión de que existe un sesgo etnocéntrico, y revelan el factor central de la representación. La representación obtenida por el análisis factorial de correspondencias se parece más a la realidad actual y nos permite entender las divisiones que han estructurado Europa y permanecen incorporadas en los sujetos. Por lo tanto, la elección del método analítico no es meramente anecdótica, puesto que las representaciones obtenidas a partir de los mismos datos pueden variar enormemente (AU)

[Physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables: social representations in relation to age]. / Activité physique et consommation de fruits et légumes : représentations sociales en fonction de l'âge.

The aim of this paper is to carry out a survey and comparative analysis of social representations of physical activity and fruit and vegetables in a sample of young, adult and elderly subjects. Four "urban" areas and four "rural" areas were selected for the purposes of the investigation. The samples used to assess social representations of fruit and vegetables and physical activity included 132 and 153 participants respectively. Verbal association was used and a factorial correspondence analysis was applied to the data. The prevention messages delivered as part of the second national program of nutrition and health were integrated by adult participants. A very limited awareness of the benefits of eating fruit and vegetable was observed in the young population. This study underlines the importance of implementing regular measures for the purposes of qualitative local evaluations that consider the specific characteristics of every age group in order to assess the psychological impact of prevention campaigns.