A 1978 field test evaluated the 3-program "Collecting Information" cluster of ThinkAbout, a series of 60 15-minute instructional television programs for fifth and sixth graders designed to strengthen reasoning skills and to review and reinforce language arts, mathematics, and study skills. Conducted in 60 classrooms in Kansas City,…

This paper compares the effects of television viewing to the effects of imaginative play on children's cognitive development. The major developmental tasks which confront the growing child are presented and the significance of imaginative play as a critical feature of the child's cognitive and affective development is discussed. The cognitive…

The findings of this study indicated that children's capacity to comprehend television advertising is primarily a developmental phenomenon, although social and experiential factors may have a moderate positive and a minor negative influence, respectively. Research subjects were 289 elementary school boys of first, third, and fifth grade levels,…

Special equipment was used to record the eye movement patterns of 60 children enrolled in a reading clinic. There were 20 children in each of three groups: good readers, slow readers, and non-readers. The children were shown printed material on a screen accompanied by action sequences and voice recordings similar to what they might see on…

Examines the claim that television does not actively involve the viewer cognitively in ways usually associated with mature information processing. Study is described that suggests active and differential processing of television information by viewers and an increase in the level of sophistication in understanding the medium. Twenty-six references…

A sample of 285 parents of children in kindergarten, second, fourth, and sixth grades was interviewed about their children's television viewing habits. Analyses revealed that interest in classic cartoons, which typically display violence for violence's sake, was predicted by grade, whereas attraction to typically justice-restoring violent fare was…

This report summarizes two case studies conducted in 1979-1980 in a combined fifth-sixth grade special class for talented and gifted pupils in a large Oregon school district and a sixth grade self-contained classroom in a small school district, both of which were using ThinkAbout, a series of 60 15-minute instructional television programs designed…

This review examines studies which deal with family interaction and home situational factors that lead up to and mediate the intrepretation and use of what is viewed on television. It surveys empirical studies in two domains: the effects of parents and siblings on program selection and amount of viewing time; and mediation of what is learned and…

Much of the television American children watch is violent in content. The evidence indicating that this programing increases children's aggressive behavior is not clear-cut, and some studies have shown a decrease in children's aggressive behavior. A study was conducted to test a more developmental perspective on the effects of violent television:…

This report reviews research and opinion concerning the teaching of reading with in-school television and describes a commercially televised reading program for sixth and seventh grade Duval County (Jacksonville, Florida) schoolchildren, who watched television at home, but who received correlated instruction in school classes. Pretest and posttest…

A study of 64 Canadian 7-12-year-olds and of adults who might influence their television viewing habits was made to measure the receptivity and acceptability of "Monkey Bars," a children's television program created as an alternative for Saturday morning viewing. A 50-minute composite tape of program segments was shown, after which…

Describes children's reactions to a television adaptation of a juvenile novel. Finds that the children enjoyed discussing the adaptation with the interviewer and usually sought out the original book to read on their own. Concludes that both books and their televised version should be incorporated into a wider approach to teaching fiction. (MM)

Discussion of comprehension and attention processes of children viewing television programs highlights a study that was conducted to examine the potential impact of sound effects on children's visual orientation to television programs which varied in the rate of program pace. Results for four treatment groups of preschool children and fourth…

Describes a study of nine year olds in Ireland, Australia, the United States, and Norway that investigated their attitudes to television advertising and the connection to buying patterns in their families. Highlights include enjoyment of television ads, parallels between television programs and ads, and perceived influence of ads on parents.…

Designed for media specialists and educators, the four articles in this issue focus on television's effects on children. Following a brief editorial reviewing current directions of research in this area, the first article compares the American pre-school educational television program "Sesame Street" with its Australian counterpart.…