Differential effects of television programming on preschoolers' cognition, imagination, and social play.

Abstract

Three groups of preschoolers were exposed over two weeks to daily programs of Misterogers Neighborhood, Sesame Street, or a control series of nature and animal films. Specific hypotheses about the effects of program format upon recall of content and upon subsequent behavior were tested. The apparently more slow-paced format and other characteristics of Misterogers were found to yield positive changes, especially for less imaginative children, in imaginative play, affect, concentration, and social interaction.