Psychology 9-1 GCSE - 

6.2.2 - Charlton et al (2000) Children’s Playground Behaviour Across Five Years of Broadcast Television: A Naturalistic Study in a Remote Community:

Aims - 

To investigate the effect of the introduction of satellite TV on the aggressive behaviour of children.

Procedures - 

Conducted on 3-8 year olds who had not yet seen TV. aggressive behaviour was analysed before the study and then after. A schedule of pro-social and anti-social behaviour was kept.

Results - 

There were no significant differences in the results. The levels of anti-social behaviour were very low on first observation and remained this way throughout various viewings. The children displayed almost twice as much pro-social behaviour than anti-social behaviour both before and after the introduction of TV.

Conclusion - 

Exposure to more violent TV does not necessarily result in an increase in aggressive behaviour.

Strengths - 

• Applicable to society as TV viewed on a regular basis.
• High ecological validity.
• Longitudinal.

Weaknesses - 

• May not be generalisation to all cultures.
• Subjective in terms of what is considered pro and anti social.