Television and Its Effects on Youth Research Paper

BACKGROUND

Does watching violence on television cause aggressiveness or criminal behavior among youth? Does sexually explicit programming negatively affect impressionable teens? Studies by social psychologists, consumer groups, and the broadcasting industry have produced often conflicting results. Although most groups agree that behavior is affected by television, exactly how it is affected is debated.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

301.16

302.2345

343.73

384.55

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Television and children

Violence in television

Television programs

Television—Law and legislation—United States

Television and family

Television broadcasting—Social aspects—United States

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

CQ Researcher, March 26, 1993; November 17, 1995.

Editorials on File, Facts on File.

Facts on File

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

NewsBank and other newspaper indexes

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online

CompuServe
Dialog

Internet

Prodigy

KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Television and youth

Television and children

Sex in television

Violence in television

Television—influence

Television programs for children—psychological aspects

VIDEOTAPE ON THIS TOPIC

On Television: The Violence Factor. Films, Inc., 1989.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Council for Children’s Television and Media, 33290 W. 14 Mile Rd., Ste. 488, West Bloomfield, MI 48322.

National Coalition on Television Violence, P.O. Box 2157, Champaign, IL 61825.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Comment on television as a positive influence.

Discuss the psychological impact of MTV on teenagers.

Evaluate research on television viewing and aggressiveness in children.

Is there a connection between television viewing and literacy?

Report on a particular television program and its possible effects on young viewers.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Broadcasting and the First Amendment to the Constitution

Public television

Television advertising

Television in the classroom

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.