Entry:

Bare, John, "A New Look at Television Viewing and Adult Vocabulary," International Journal of Public Research, 7 (1995), 56-65.


Abstract:

Hours of television viewed by adults is not a significant predictor of vocabulary. However, frequent viewing of prime-time situation comedies and dramas is associated with higher vocabulary skills, even when controlling for age, sex, race, income, and education.

GSS Years:

1978, 1982, 1988-1991, 1993

GSS Codebook Variables referenced by document:

Variable Name

Variable Label

 
 
TVHOURS

HOURS PER DAY WATCHING TV

NEWS

HOW OFTEN DOES R READ NEWSPAPER

TVSHOWS

HOW OFTEN R WATCHES TV DRAMA OR SITCOMS

TVNEWS

HOW OFTEN R WATCHES TV NEWS

TVPBS

HOW OFTEN R WATCHES PUBLIC TV SHOWS

RACE

RACE OF RESPONDENT

SEX

RESPONDENTS SEX

EDUC

HIGHEST YEAR OF SCHOOL COMPLETED

MAEDUC

"HIGHEST YEAR SCHOOL COMPLETED

PAEDUC

"HIGHEST YEAR SCHOOL COMPLETED

INCOME

TOTAL FAMILY INCOME

WORDA

WORD A

WORDB

WORD B

WORDC

WORD C

WORDD

WORD D

WORDE

WORD E

WORDF

WORD F

WORDG

WORD G

WORDH

WORD H

WORDI

WORD I

WORDJ

WORD J

WORDSUM

NUMBER WORDS CORRECT IN VOCABULARY TEST