The following summary is based on the study: Christakis, D., Zimmerman, F., Digi

Question

The following summary is based on the study:

Christakis, D., Zimmerman, F., Digiuseppe, D, & McCarty, C. (2004). Early television

exposure and subsequent problems in children. Pediatrics, 113, 708.

Past research has suggested a link between television viewing and decreased attention span in children. However, longitudinal research has been lacking. The researchers’ objective was to determine if early television exposure (at age 1) predicts later attention problems (at age 7).

The researchers used the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, a representative longitudinal data set. They had data for 1278 children on the hours of television watched each day at age 1 and ratings of hyperactivity of these same children at age 7.   Analyses suggested that hours of television viewed per day at age 1 was associated with attentional problems at age 7.

a) What type of study is this: Descriptive, correlational, or experimental?

b) What do the results of the study suggest?

c) If you were a parent, how might you use this information?

d) What are the strengths and limitations of this particular study?

e) As a researcher, what follow-up study might you suggest? For example, what additional information would you like to know or what is a way to address some of the limitations you listed in the previous question.

Explanation / Answer

Ans.

a)This type of study is a correlational study. This is because the study compares the incidence of attention problems with respect to the hours spent per day by the children watching television. It thus seeks to correlate ( by finding out the ‘association’ between) the hours spent watching television at age 1, with the incidence of attention disorder at age 7. Correlational studies are based on the correlation or association between two or more variables that signify either a positive correlation (where the increase in one variable signifies an increase in the other variable) or a negative correlation (where the increase in one variable signifies a decrease in the other variable).

b)The result of the study has shown positive correlation between the hours of watching television at age 1 and the incidence of attention problems at age 7. This implies more number of hours would indicate greater attention problems. This result thus suggests that in order to reduce possible attentional problems in children, the hours spent in watching television from a very young age, have to be reduced as much as practicable.

c)If I were a parent, this information would be really helpful in managing my child’s daily routine, from a very young age. I would prefer reducing the number of hours my child spends in watching television, to a minimal level, and would substitute them with work or games that would help develop and enrich his/her knowledge and allow him/her to be engaged in attention-grabbing and interesting assignments that help him/her stay focussed for a long period of time.

d)The advantages/strengths of this study are:

              The disadvantages/limitations of this study are:

e)As a follow-up study, the suggestion would be to focus upon the role of family environment and family variables, as mentioned in the first limitation provided. This kind of information will provide a qualitative understanding of the problems and would thus have greater implications in fields of counselling. Attention problems may have a correlation with hours spent in watching television. But the condition may further be reinforced by neglectful or faulty parenting styles. Thus a data based on these studies would provide a comprehensive picture of the conditions and it might also help in the management of such problems in the long-run.

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