California Surveys of Home Television Viewing and School Achievement

Abstract

An hypothesis that has tempted many television researchers is that increased or excessive viewing at home causes lower academic achievement. The large amount of time that children spend in front of the television and public concern with the quality of education in the United States are both responsible for interest in the relationship between television and academic achievement. The hypothesis of a relationship between home television viewing and academic achievement seems fairly obvious. The ubiquity of television in American households, and the attractiveness of television for school children is proverbial. At the same time there is a general public perception of declining standards in public education. At the very least, television could be diverting children's attention from academic pursuits.