Pairs of preschool children saw television commercials that varied in formal features (high versus low perceptual salience) and placement in a television show (dispersed through the program versus clustered at the beginning and end). Sixty-four subjects (32 female and 32 male) from a university preschool participated in the study. (Author/RH)

Evaluates the pattern of celebratory activities in United States homes that accompanied television viewing of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. Finds that those watching the Olympics were more likely to be in a group, to have visitors, to plan their viewing, and to pay close attention to the television. (MS)

Reports research that investigated whether children use television commercials in family viewing situations to initiate, control, and manipulate social interaction with other family group members, especially their parents. Observational data are presented and discussed. (Author/JD)

Results of a study conducted with 721 fourth, sixth, and eighth graders were not supportive of the assumed role of children's perceived reality of television in determining the impact of exposure to television on children's social behavior. (GT)

Television is a large part of growing up in America, and a part that meshes in various ways with other influences. Teachers should understand it, and as the occasion requires, confront, correct, or take advantage of it. Research on television viewing yields five lessons. Television experience is an individual one, although there are definite…

Reports on an experiment that examined the independent effects of television content (violence) and television formal features (action) on preschool boys' attention to programs and their postviewing social behavior. Shows rapid character action facilitated visual attention to the programs and that television action level had no systematic effects…

Provides examples of observed behavior to support the claim that television viewing is an interactive phenomenon, a social experience in which young children actively participate with parents, siblings, and others. Contends that the view of a passive receiver underestimates the abilities of the child to understand and shape experiences. (PD)

Investigated effects of "The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers" on aggression. Found that children in a group exposed to a televised Power Rangers episode committed seven times more aggressive acts in a subsequent two-minute play period than did a control group, boys moreso than girls. Results corroborate the causal link between television…

The author presents ways in which media, especially television, effects social processes in early adolescence (ages 10 to 15). Research is reported which substantiates social characteristics which may emerge as a direct result of media influence. (Editor/KC)

Women and men characters on primetime TV were observed to determine the amount of distancing behavior enacted by them. Distancing behavior, which indicates discrimination, was demonstrated more frequently by men TV characters toward women than toward men. Women demonstrated equal behavior towards both sexes. Implications are discussed. (JS)

Reanalyzes previously reported data (EBU Review; v27, n6, Nov 1976 and v29, n2, Mar 1978) on television viewing among 85 families in the Federal Republic of Germany to answer questions concerning aspects of viewer behavior in families, adult self-image, and children's daily viewing patterns. (RAO)

Summarizes research findings on the structures, codes, and conventions of television as a communicative symbol, and on the effects of television on cognitive and social development. Suggests that television viewing can induce active cognitive processing, and that television can be a potent tool for teaching and communicating with young children.…

Discusses a model of television interpretation processes regarding the influences of alcohol advertising and describes a study that tested the model with preadolescent at-risk students. Highlights include perceptions of alcohol use at home and on television; social norms; perceived realism of commercials; and intent to drink. (41 references) (LRW)

Results indicate that children who frequently watch family television shows appear to believe that families in real life show the same support and concern for each other and that parents who discuss the reality and utility of such programs can influence the amount and kind of learning their children receive from television. (PD)

This study of U.S. college students' soap opera viewing habits investigated their motives; interrelationships among motives, audience viewing dispositions, and life patterns; whether viewing dispositions and life pattern variables explain viewing motives; and what multivariate structures explain relationships between viewing motives, viewing…