Television and the American Child

Drawing on hundreds of studies including much new evidence, "Television and the American Child" examines the impact of the medium on growing up from the first few months of childhood through the end of the teenage years. Myths are challenged and major questions answered about the effects of television on scholastic achievement, use of time, beliefs and perception, susceptibility to advertizing and behaviour.;The book offers a comprehensive examination of the research conducted by behavioural scientists over the last fourty years on the influence of television on the lives of American children and adolescents. It focuses on recent research and emphasizes confirmations and disconfirmations of the "received wisdom" about television's effects.;Features and benefits of the book are that it offers thorough assessment of the scientific evidence on the role of television in the lives of children and teenagers; addresses the major questions that have been asked by parents, teachers, scientists, and policymakers, and provides concise answers; provides new evidence on the influence of television on academic achievement; and challenges myths that television has created a more visually skilled population with an increased vocabulary.