FAMILY MEDIATION PATTERNS AND TELEVISION VIEWING.

Abstract

A sample of kindergarten and first-grade children was studied in a research center and at school to determine the extent to which family communication mediated their comprehension of television, as well as a series of cognitive skills necessary for such comprehension. Results indicate that, even when intelligence is controlled for, several cognitive and imaginative skills and particular family interaction styles such as establishment of rules about television or explanation rather than prescription are related to the ability to understand television.