Roger Jon Desmond

Gender Differences, Mediation, and Disciplinary Styles in Children's Responses to Television.

A sample of kindergarten and first-grade children was studied in a research center and at school to determine the extent to which family communication mediated their comprehension of television, as well as a series of cognitive skills necessary for such comprehension. Separate analyses were conducted for boys and girls, and results indicated that certain styles of family mediation facilitated comprehension more effectively for boys than for girls. Additionally, differential effects of two styles of discipline were found for each sex.

Adolescents and music lyrics: Implications of a cognitive perspective

This essay addresses the relevance of cognitive research in memory processes and auditory information processing for the resolution of policy issues concerning the regulation of popular music. Several assumptions are offered regarding music listening, and conclusions are presented which center on appropriate research methods for resolution of questions surrounding music listening and regulation.

Diversity and density: Lexically determined evaluative and informational consequences of linguistic complexity

Lexical diversity and lexical density are discussed in terms of the construct “stimulus complexity.” Competing predictions are offered regarding the effects of diversity (high vs. moderate vs. low) and density (high vs. low) on listeners’ evaluative judgments and retention of factual information.

Elevating children's awareness of television advertising: The effects of a critical viewing program

This study addresses the question of what is the most effective strategy for increasing childrens awareness of the persuasive intent and production techniques of television advertising. Instructional units used a lecture approach, an audio visual discussion approach, and a role‐playing approach. The subjects were urban children in grades K‐2. Each approach was successful in raising awareness and cynicism for different aspects of commercials, but the role‐playing method of instruction was generally superior, especially with the younger children.

Social interaction in advertising directed to children

This study investigated the efficacy of including peer interaction in television advertising directed to children. Results suggest that this variable provides increased liking for commercials, but does not affect product desirability.

Emotion, romantic involvement, and loneliness: Gender differences among inner states and choice of entertainment

Four hundred and four undergraduates (85% upper middle class Caucasian, 4% Black, remainder Asian and Hispanic) at a private northeastern university were surveyed regarding their personal relationship status, loneliness, and affect states during the two-week period preceding the survey, and choice of entertainment during that period. Results indicated that for females, the state of a love relationship and feelings of loneliness are related to choice of media entertainment, but affect is not. For males, negative affect was a predictor of several categories of media use.

Metacognition: Thinking about Thoughts in Children's Comprehension of Television.

This essay reviews research concerning several aspects of metacognition as mediating constructs in childrens comprehension of television. Meta‐atten‐tion, metamemory, meta‐social cognition, and cognitive monitoring are examined with respect to their potential for resolving conflicting conclusions regarding developmental trends in attention, effortful viewing, scripts for comprehension, and other problems surrounding cognition and television comprehension. Four propositions which address these issues are presented, with priorities for further research involving individual differences in metacognitive abilities as explanatory processes for various receivership skills. The essay concludes with a discussion of the methodological limitations involved in the assessment of metacognition.

Pluralistic Programming and Radio Diversity: A Review and a Proposal.

While radio is Americas most abundant medium, its content is characterized more by sameness than by diversity. Stations find it more profitable to duplicate mass appeal programming formats than to program to minority tastes. Such rational business decisions come at the expense of the listening audience which is given few formats from which to choose. The regulatory system, which speaks to the value of program diversity, has been unsuccessful in creating effective incentives to foster radio diversity. The article suggests a novel approach to radio regulation that combines economic incentives with new methods for identifying audience preferences such that a profit-maximizing radio industry would serve more tastes than are presently served.