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This study examines whether the ratings assigned to television shows accurately reflect their content, according to the guidelines developed by the industry. The study analyzes the level and intensity of violence, sex or adult language in a show as well as the context in which it was presented. This full report is available only in print (Publication #1434). The executive summary and chartpack is available below. A companion survey of parents views on the TV…
The television ratings system was designed to help address concerns about television content by giving parents assistance in monitoring what their children watch. This survey asks parents and children about their knowledge, opinions and use of the TV ratings system. 446 children ages 10-17 were also interviewed. The survey was conducted for the Foundation by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Chartpack Download News Release Download Findings/Toplines Download
Measuring the Effects of Sexual Content in the Media: A Report to the Kaiser Family Foundation This report provides a history of the research on sexual content in the media, an overview of the methods available for studying the effects of media, a discussion of some of the difficulties in doing research on this topic, and specific recommendations for future research on the effects on young viewers of sexual content in the media. This Report…
Measuring the Effects of Sexual Content in the Media: A Report to the Kaiser Family Foundation This Report is available in Adobe Acrobat Format Author: Drs. Aletha C. Huston, Ellen Wartella, and Edward Donnerstein Executive Summary The Kaiser Family Foundation has an ongoing interest in sexual health among young people and the potential contributions of mass media to sexual behavior. This report was prepared at the request of the Foundation to examine the methodological options…
A national random sample telephone survey of 700 regular ER viewers before and after the April 10th episode, featuring a date rape victim who learns that she still has contraceptive options to help prevent pregnancy, even after having unprotected sex. While in the emergency room, she learns that if she takes a heavy dose of regular birth control pills within three days of unprotected sex, she can reduce her chance of becoming pregnant by 75%.…
And Their Parents' Reactions The Kaiser Family Foundation and Children Now conducted focus groups - - focus groups conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates - - with children between the ages of 8-13 years old, in an attempt to examine to what extent children understand the sexual content they see on television and what messages they take away from it. Report: ...
A three part study on the sexual content on television's family hour, and the impact on children and their families. The family hour is the first hour of prime time programming, 8-9 p.m. in most areas of the country. The project includes: (1) content analysis looking at three decades of sexual content on network television during the family hour; (2) a survey of parents about sexual content on television today; and (3) focus group reports…
This study, conducted for the Kaiser Family Foundation by Katharine E. Heintz-Knowles, Ph.D., University of Washington, presents a "snapshot" of the sexual content on soap operas today. Katharine Heintz-Knowles examined 97 hours of programming from theten nationally televised soap operas between May 27 and June 28, 1996. The study was presented on September 7, 1996 to producers and writers of soap operas and network executives at SOAP SUMMIT II, a day-long seminar produced by Population…
The Entertainment Media as "Sex Educators?" And, Other Ways Teens Learn About Sex, Contraception, STDs, and AIDS A fact sheet, Q&A and resource list prepared for a briefing held in New York on June 24, 1996, co-sponsored by Kaiser Family Foundation, the National Press Foundation and The Alan Guttmacher Institute, as part of an ongoing briefing series for journalist on reproductive health issues: Emerging Issues in Reproductive Health. This briefing focused on understanding the different…
Teens on Sex: What They Say About the Media as an Information Source According to a new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a third (34%) of teens say some teens have sex because television and movies make it seem "normal" for teens to be sexually active. But, many teens also say that television and movies, after their teachers, parents, and friends, are important sources of information for them on pregnancy and birth control. Nearly…
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