A critique of an article which identified characteristics of children who watch television. (BD)

Assesses the variable amounts of attention that are required for a viewer to process two kinds of interruptions common to television: the shift from one message to a different, unexpected message; and the reference to previously presented material. Interprets results in terms of limited capacity and attentional inertia models of attention. (RS)

Describes the implications of research designed to focus on within-commercial differences, use a variety of response measures, employ a non-reactive viewing situation, measure behavioral as well as verbal responses, and provide data that creative people can understand. Action and story line were found to be the most important aspects that hold…

Investigates the visual attention of children (ages 3.5 to 6.5 years) to short segments of the television program "Sesame Street." Finds an early increase in attention to random segments, suggesting an attempt to deal with difficult but seemingly accessible content. Finds a quick decrease of attention to segments with incomprehensible…

Tests the proposition that message structure (cuts) affects attention to television differently, depending on whether the cuts link related or unrelated content. Finds cuts in unrelated sequences require more attention than cuts in related sequences. (NH)

This study tested the claim that television viewing reduces preschoolers' perseverance, increases their impulsivity, and induces restlessness. In the first of two laboratory visits with a parent, 328 5-year-olds were given the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. During the second visit, the parent completed the Parent Temperament Questionnaire and…

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…

Author, vice-president and director of research at the Children's Television Workshop, describes the research conducted for Sesame Street. (MB)

The purpose of this review is to determine the scientific status of the proposition that viewing television in general or viewing "Sesame Street" in particular affects children's attentional skills, abilities, or behaviors. It has been frequently claimed that television viewing negatively affects children's attentional abilities. The…

Describes a continuing research program concerned with what U.S. preschoolers look at on television and how often they watch and notes implications for the production of television material for young children. (MH)

This study investigated what and how preschool children view children's television programs, with a focus on cultural and ecological factors which might affect their visual attention and the nature of their immediate recall of content. The secondary task method (in which an individual is required to perform two tasks simultaneously) was applied to…

Decribes age trends in television viewing time and visual attention of children and adults videotaped in their homes for 10-day periods. Shows that the increase in visual attention to television during the preschool years is consistent with the theory that television program comprehensibility is a major determinant of attention in young children.…

Reviews findings of recent television research and discusses two dominant issues: the nature and determinants of children's attention to television, and the amount and kind of content retained by different age groups. It is recommended that research on media effects incorporate age-related and individual difference factors. Nineteen references are…

Measures children's attention to television programs varying in pace and continuity and assesses recall of the temporal sequence of program events. Attention and comprehension covaried more in animated than in live shows. Age, continuity, and pace effects on recall were not fully accounted for by their effects on attention. (Author/AS)

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors in preschool educational television that engage and sustain children's attention. The method used to measure the children's attention was decided on in a pilot study of three measurement techniques, and consisted of an observer rating scale with the periodic introduction of a kaleidoscopic…