St Helena, a small British Colony with no access to mainland TV, but there were plans to introduce it. Researchers wanted to see the influence of TV on children's behaviour on the island.
1 of 15
aim
To investigate effects of TV on children's behaviour. Researchers were interested to see if TV made them more aggressive.
2 of 15
procedure
researchers went to the island in 1994 and recorded children behaviour 4 months before TV was introduced. Cameras were set up in 2 primary schools to monitor children aged between 3 and 8 for 2 weeks. Researchers gathered 256 mins of free play
3 of 15
procedure (cont.)
and generalised behaviours using PBOS. Five years later, after TV was introduced, the researchers returned and filmed similar aged children over a two week period. They recorded 344 mins of footage and again coded it using PBOS.
4 of 15
procedure (cont.)
Researchers also noted who the behaviour was displayed by. Researchers analysed the recordings and made a tally of acts displayed in 60 seconds intervals. Acts displayed by children were averaged in every 30 min period.
5 of 15
playground behaviour observation schedule (PBOS) recorded acts
anti social acts; gestures, verbal. contact, hitting, kicking, pushing. seizing, damaging property. non-complaint holding, forcing. Prosocial acts; gestures, verbal. sharing, turn taking, helping. consoling, affection. hand holding, arm in arm.
6 of 15
results
5 declines in pro social behaviour of both boys and girls, in single and mixed gender pairs and groups. 2 increases in pro social behaviour of boys playing alone. 2 decreases in anti social behaviour in girls and boys.
7 of 15
results (cont.)
There was no change in the fighting, hitting, kicking and pushing, after TV was introduced. Boys had a tendency to display more anti social acts and girls were more likely to display pro social acts, although this difference wasn't significant.
8 of 15
results (cont.)
Both boys and girls displayed twice as much pro social behaviour as they did anti social behaviour.
9 of 15
conclusions
TV had little influence on the behaviour of the children studied. Children weren't copying aggression witnessed on TV. Researchers pointed out that this could be due to environmental conditions. namely the close-knit nature of the community
10 of 15
conclusions (cont.)
as well as high adult surveillance over the children.
11 of 15
strengths
same primary school used for observations, the same environment was studied minimising differences that could've occurred in 2 different schools were used. the behaviour displayed was natural
12 of 15
strengths (cont.)
because it was conducted under naturally occurring circumstances, and the children were unaware they were being studied.
13 of 15
weaknesses
findings may be limited to this community as research carried out in other locations are unable to replicate these findings. programs watched on the island weren't the same on mainland. shows that contained less violence were shown.
14 of 15
weakness (cont.)
shows with more violence weren't broadcast on the island.
15 of 15
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
To investigate effects of TV on children's behaviour. Researchers were interested to see if TV made them more aggressive.
Back
aim
Card 3
Front
researchers went to the island in 1994 and recorded children behaviour 4 months before TV was introduced. Cameras were set up in 2 primary schools to monitor children aged between 3 and 8 for 2 weeks. Researchers gathered 256 mins of free play
Back
Card 4
Front
and generalised behaviours using PBOS. Five years later, after TV was introduced, the researchers returned and filmed similar aged children over a two week period. They recorded 344 mins of footage and again coded it using PBOS.
Back
Card 5
Front
Researchers also noted who the behaviour was displayed by. Researchers analysed the recordings and made a tally of acts displayed in 60 seconds intervals. Acts displayed by children were averaged in every 30 min period.
Comments
No comments have yet been made