Question

What is the impact of violence on TV?

Be sure to answer all parts of each prompt in detailed and complete sentences.   

A typical hour of prime-time television shows three to five violent acts. Linking family interviews and police records shows a clear association between time spent watching TV as a child and later aggressive behavior.

(a) Explain why this is an observational study rather than an experiment.

(b) Suggest several other variables describing a child’s home life that may be related to how much TV he or she watches. Explain why these variables make it difficult to conclude that more TV causes aggressive behavior?

Answer 1

1) this is an observational study and not an experiment because it shows that more hours a child watches tv more aggressive he becomes but this study does not have a control group, the children who does not watch tv and then seen the effect of their behaviour. this study can show the association but not the cause and effect relationship between watching television in childhood and aggressive behavior later on. children who do not watch tv can also be aggressive due to other factors which are not considered. also the level of aggression can not be measured.

b) lack of quality time with parents

    lack of social activities among children

     parents watching tv

these variables suggests that it may be lack of attention from parents and not tv that caused aggression. lack of other fun activities can force them to watch more tv.