How Does Television Affect Student Achievement? Michelle LaRocque College of Education Background/Purpose: Participants in this study were students from a fourth grade classroom at Riverside Elementary School. The purpose of this research project was to find how television influences student achievement, specifically with their overall grades. Results: Based on the information gathered, there was no correlation between watching television and overall grades. The data was rather scattered, showing no consistency within each group of students. The highest average of time watching television was in the Average Group. Based from this study, these students are average academically and have not been affected by their television watching habits. The lowest average of time watching television was from the Below Average Group. Some may believe that watching television will lower grades, however, this student watched a small amount of television during the whole week. Based from this study, there are other factors that play into the academic success of students, not television. Additional Findings: 4 hours 50 minutes of the total viewing hours were spent watching educational programs (Animal Planet, the news, etc.); the rest were entertainment. 20% of students had rules established at home regarding the amount of time allowed to watch television. (All of these students were in the above average category). 93% of students said that they were expected to complete their homework before watching television. 33% of students said they do their homework while watching television regularly (all in the average group). 67% of students said that there are shows that they are NOT allowed to watch (majority said “The Family Guy” as an example). The most popular television show for participants in this study was “Spongebob Squarepants” (33%). Findings are not generalizable due to the small sample, but important for personal professional growth. Hours Watched Per Week Student A 10 hours 15 minutes Student B 9 hours 30 minutes Student C 1 hour 50 minutes Student D 5 hours 55 minutes Student E 13 hours 25 minutes Student F 5 hours 35 minutes Student G 1 hour 39 minutes Student H 6 hours 50 minutes Student I 18 hours 10 minutes Student J 18 hours 40 minutes Student K 7 hours 30 minutes Student L 8 hours 45 minutes Student M 2 hours 15 minutes Student N 1 hour Student O 5 hours Total Hours 116 hours 30 minutes Students A-H: Above Average (All A’s/perhaps one B) Students I-N: Average (All A’s and B’s/perhaps one C) Student O: Below Average (Mostly B’s and C’s) Methodology: Students who participated filled out a week-long television log at home. On this log, they recorded the time spent watching television and the shows that they watched. After these logs were turned in, each student was then interviewed regarding their television habits. The total number of viewing hours each week were calculated and compared to each student’s overall grade category (above average, average, or below average) taken from their first semester report cards. The data was compared using the pie chart shown on the right. Other Research on Television Viewing: “Moderate TV viewing—one to ten hours per week—was positively associated with achievement (compared with no television at all), whereas heavier viewing—more than eleven hours per week—was negatively linked with achievement.” “When researchers examine the relative importance of media content and total time spent with media, they find that content matters more…educational programming has positive benefits for children’s academic skills, academic engagement, and attitudes toward learning.” Schmidt, Marie & Vandewater, Elizabeth. “Media and Attention, Cognition, and School Achievement”. The Future of Children. Vol18. Spring 2008. 63-77.