Examines a census of 1,757 major characters added to broadcast network lineups through new season programming from 1966 to 1992. New characters are examined in terms of gender, age, race/ethnicity, and occupational patterns occurring across 27 years of network program activity. (Author/AEF)

Reports on the results of three studies that investigated whether three- and four-year olds interpret television images as mere pictorial representations of objects or as real physically present objects. Children's developmental differences are discussed, and a developmental sequence of understanding television reality is presented. (28…

Describes a study that examined 48 television stations seeking FCC (Federal Communications Commission) license renewal in 1992 and assesses their efforts to fulfill the programming requirements of the Children's Television Act (CTA) of 1990. Educational programming requirements are explained, and results are reported that indicate inadequate…

Analyzes three primetime family sitcoms in order to describe the nature of sibling interaction in television families. Research on television families is examined, and questions are raised concerning the value of television sibling images as role models for real people, and the effects of these models on family and peer relationships. (27…

Discusses the conceptualization of television viewing as a learned activity by highlighting the interrelatedness of children's linguistic, cognitive, and perceptual skills for accurate comprehension of temporal sequencing based on a study of five-year-old gifted, learning disabled (LD), and gifted/LD students. (references) (LRW)

Examines family relationships in domestic comedy; participants evaluated samples of 13 programs from a selection of popular shows during the period from 1950 to 1990. Spousal and parent-child relations were evaluated. The study yielded no support for the claim that family relations have deteriorated in the television family. Three tables present…

Examines the amount of coverage given to women's athletics by ESPN SportsCenter and CNN Sports Tonight. Results indicated: both programs devoted only about 5% of their air time to women's sports; story placement and on-camera comments indicated an emphasis on men's athletics; and stories about women involved individual competition, with almost no…

Examines children's understanding of temporal order as depicted on television through three techniques: canonical sequencing, reversed sequencing, and time leaps. A study of four-, six-, and eight-year olds is described, and findings suggest that cognitive skills associated with the ability to comprehend liquid conservation contribute to…

This study explored traits that adult television audience members perceived to be linked to positive and negative portrayals of women on television, and whether respondents' gender is linked to perception differences. Contemporary criteria for evaluating positive and negative images were linked to most responses. No significant gender differences…

Examines the effect of violence advisories and MPAA ratings on parent-child television viewing choices and verbal interactions while making those choices. Parents mainly made negative comments about the advisories and restrictive ratings whereas children, especially older children, were more likely to make positive comments. The presence of an…

This study analyzed four characteristics of political commercials to determine their impact on television viewers' reactions: (1) issue versus image strategies; (2) attack versus support appeals; (3) presence and absence of music; and (4) visual content, either with families or in professional campaign settings. Memory measures and attitudes are…

Assesses aggressive behavior on television in terms of its realism. Replicated and contextualized reality were assessed for 100.5 hours of programming. Replicated reality compared television portrayals to real world characteristics, and was similar in seriousness to aggression and gender patterns of perpetrators and victims. Contextual reality…

This study assesses the influence of exposure to television miniseries "Shogun" on adolescents' knowledge of Japanese language, history, and customs; attitudes of a closer social distance; and Japanese stereotypes. Exposure was a predictor of Japanese language, history, and customs knowledge and a limited predictor of social distance.…

Analyzes the development of children's television regulation and discusses the various attempts at reform and the reasons behind their lack of success. Research on children and television is described, including the development of Action for Children's Television, and the future outlook for regulation is assessed. Eighty references are provided.…

A secondary analysis of four General Social Surveys was performed to determine television's role in reducing social differentiation in the United States. An investigation of the extent to which television is associated with reduction in geographic regional impact on social and political attitudes indicates heavy viewers have more homogeneous…