Assignment

Observational Activity: Gender Roles and Aggression on TV: Guidelines This activity asks you to analyze a representative sampling of school-age children's TV programs, following the guidelines below. After you have finished your viewing, complete the questions on the accompanying handout and return it to your instructor.

1, Watch at least four hours of TV, spread throughout the day.

2, Select programs that provide a representative sampling of what TV has to offer. For example, pick at least one early prime-time program that is watched by schoolchildren, a Saturday morning cartoon, and an "educational" program; take note of the commercials that occur during these programs as well.

3, For each program that you watch, keep a record of the following :

A, the number of male and female characters in "lead roles"
B, the pro social behaviors modeled by male and female characters, including nurturance, empathy, problem solving, and conflict resolution.
C, the antisocial behaviors modeled by male and female characters, especially the use of physical force, verbal aggression, addictive behavior, and deceit.
D, the operant outcomes of the various behaviors modeled by males and females (for example, is "action" more likely to be reinforced in males or females?)