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Abstract

18 preschoolers were video-taped in groups of 4 or 5, while watching randomly selected 10-min. segments of Sesame Street and The Pink Panther. Observers viewing the video-tapes used a category system to record the frequencies of certain behaviors thought to be indicative of affective and cognitive involvement in the program. These data were analyzed to assess children's “viewing preferences” for the two types of television fare. The Pink Panther, a popular but violent cartoon show, elicited significantly more nonverbal affective behaviors—mostly in the form of smiles—than Sesame Street. The two programs did not differ in verbal affect, in nonverbal or in verbal “relating” behaviors. Children demonstrated significantly more motor movement “initiation” than imitation while watching both programs. The same was true for verbal behavior. This belies the notion that television is a “cool” or noninvolving medium, at least for young children.

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Preschoolers' Viewing Behavior While Watching Two Types of Television Fare

Abstract

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References