C2c3 Williams et al (1981) : does TV affect children's behavior?

Question 1

British Columbia

Answer 1

The place where Williams et al’s study took place. It is very mountainous, and it was difficult to pick up a TV signal.

Question 2

Aim of Williams et al study

Answer 2

Williams wanted to measure children’s behavior before and after TV was introduced to the town and compare it to children’s behavior in other towns that did have TV

Question 3

Procedure of Williams et al study

Answer 3

A natural experiment

1) they measured range of behaviors before and after town received TV: aggression of kids in playground/classroom, leisure activities community were involved in, IQ of the kids, creativity and reading ability of the kids
2) To measure aggression, 2 observers watched kids in playground and classroom (only started observing once kids were used to them). Physical and verbal acts of aggression counted.
4) this town, Notel, was compared to 2 other studied towns: Unitel and Multitel
5) all 3 towns studied before TV introduced to Notel, and for 2 years after

Question 4

Results of Williams et al study

Answer 4

1) Children in Notel twice as aggressive after TV
2) Children and adults spent less than half the time they did before on other leisure activities
3) Children saw increased gender differences between boys and girls
4) Children less creative
5) Children IQ dropped slightly
6) Aggression in Notel increased far more than Multitel and Unitel, which were quite similar- suggests 1 channel/ many channels have similar effect

Question 5

Conclusion of Williams et al study

Answer 5

Notel showed increased levels of aggression due to introduction of TV, and reduced time on leisure activities and lowered creativity and IQ

Question 6

Strengths of Williams et al study

Answer 6

1) natural experiment- greater realism
2) same children followed over 2 year period- behavior could be directly compared before and after TV
3) children observed in natural surroundings
4) observers didn’t start recording until children were used to them- so they would act naturally

Question 7

Weaknesses of Williams et al study

Answer 7

1) researchers didn’t control how much TV the children watched or adult supervision and control of viewing
2) observations could be biased to what researchers want to see- higher levels of aggression could’ve been recorded because they expected it to happen

Question 8

Notel

Answer 8

A town with no TV originally

Question 9

Unitel

Answer 9

A town with 1 TV channel

Question 10

Multitel

Answer 10

A town with multiple TV channels