C2c2 Charlton et al (2000): St Helena study Flashcards
St Helena
One of the most isolated islands in the South Atlantic ocean. It is away from mainland Africa, and is only accessible by boat. It is a close-knit community with around 5000 inhabitants.
Charlton et al study aim
To investigate the effects of television on children’s behaviour
Procedure of Charlton et al study
Study began 2 years before introduction of TV- a natural experiment
Data on the children’s behaviour was collected using:
1) questionnaires
2) asking teachers and parents
3) observing them in the playground (esp. aggression levels)
4) using video cameras in school and playgrounds
5) using content analysis on what the children watched on TV
Results of Charlton et al study
Very little difference found in behavior before and after introduction of TV. The island already had a very low rate of behavioral problems- no significant increase.
Conclusion of Charlton et al study
TV did not have a significant impact on children’s behavior. Even if violence was watched it was not copied. This was due to high levels of community control and surveillance and parent’s control over behavior
Natural experiment
An experiment where the independent variable is naturally occurring and not set up by the researchers
Strengths of Charlton et al’s study
1) natural experiment- greater realism than laboratory or field experiment.
2) discreet cameras used- the children would have acted naturally- they didn’t know they were watched
Weaknesses of Charlton et al’s study
1) close nature of community meant that even if the children became more aggressive after TV, the parents and teachers would be unwilling to report it- they would think the researches have negative view of island. Aggressive behavior could very easily be controlled by teachers
2) the programs the children watched had less violence than mainland shows.
