Challenges television research which presents an overly critical view of the effects of television viewing on its audience. (JJD)

Reviews three books concerned with the effects of television advertising upon children and their parents: "Television Advertising and Children," edited by June Esserman; "Children and the Faces of Television," edited by Edward Palmer and Aimee Dorr; and "The Effects of Television Advertising on Children," by Richard Adler and others. (JJD)

Describes the promotion and public relations campaign and sale of commercial time by the American Broadcasting Corporation for "The Day After," a movie depicting nuclear holocaust, and discusses Nielsen Company findings and a J. Walter Thompson USA audience analysis and reaction survey regarding the program and its advertisers. (MBR)

Describes television production techniques used to convey nonverbal messages to viewers (laugh tracks, flashbacks, zooms to close-ups, voice-overs, time continuity) and presents selections from interviews with five- to nine-year-old children to demonstrate that the understanding of these telegenic nonverbals is a learned phenomenon. Implications…

Ways in which broadcasters can use television research data to promote children's learning are suggested under five headings: cognitive (reading, comprehension, imagination); social and emotional (sharing, sex); violence, aggressions, fears; family roles and attitudes; health issues (alcohol, nutrition, drugs). Information sources for television…

Discusses the increasing number of children viewing soap operas and reviews research findings of a study of third, fourth, and fifth graders' soap opera viewing habits in relation to motivation, age, gender, and what children learn about relationships from viewing. Parental mediation and further research needs are also discussed. (MBR)

Describes steps taken by the American Broadcasting Corporation to assess the public's reaction to "The Day After." Pre-broadcast activities included a literature review, consultation with child development specialists, viewer's guide development, focus group research, and recommendations regarding children's viewing. Post-broadcast…

A collection of quotations drawn from research and opinion papers dealing with the impact of television viewing on children. Subtopics addressed are: television viewing statistics, effects of television violence, and the relationship of television to education. (JJD)

Traces historical development of soap operas and presents results of surveys conducted with college students to determine how viewing affects their behavior, attitudes, and beliefs. Results indicate students neither seek nor take advice from soap operas whereas early radio soap opera listeners sought practical explanations of appropriate behavior…

Reviews conclusions from research papers prepared for the National Institute of Mental Health Report, Television and Behavior (referred to as the Update). The two-volume Update summarizes research findings of the past 10 years dealing with the effects of television viewing on its audience, particularly children. (JJD)

Discusses problems posed by television violence; how behavioral and social scientists became interested in television violence and its effects on children; how psychologists study relationships between television violence and behavior; how television violence can be counteracted by television industry, parents, and educators; and results from the…