Concludes that where there are sweeps periods, there may or may not be more sex, depending on which network is analyzed. Notes that ABC cut its number of sexual behaviors per hour by almost half, while Fox more than doubled its rate per hour. (SR)

Tracks changes in the numbers and types of sexual behaviors in prime time network television programs. Finds a substantial decrease in the hourly rates of sexual behaviors in the programs from fall 1987 to fall 1991. (RS)

Finds no liberal news bias in the selection of sound bites by the candidates themselves. Notes that almost half the sound bite time was devoted to noncandidates and produced results consistent with a hypothesis of liberal news bias. Finds that the Bush-Quayle ticket received a substantially higher percentage of negative bites than did the other…

All of the presidential and vice presidential campaign stories in a simple random sample of 75 network television newscasts during the 1984 campaign were analyzed for possible political bias. The 4,363 sentences in these newscasts were classified as report sentences (factual and verifiable), inference sentences (subjective and not verifiable), and…

A study was conducted to establish a baseline of facts concerning the extent, nature, and social functions of the drinking of alcoholic beverages as depicted on prime time network television programing. A content analysis was undertaken of a random sample of programs drawn from the three major networks over a period of 14 evenings. The primary…

Assesses the extent and nature of sexual behavior in daytime soap operas. Concludes that soap operas can be assumed to be presenting a distorted picture of sexual behavior in America, particularly in the ratio of married to unmarried sexual behavior. Suggests that steady viewing may influence young viewers' attitudes and values. (PD)

Reports that the typical communication research study published from 1970 through 1976 was cross-sectional, was carried out in the United States only, cited literature published in the United States only, focused on the individual as the level of analysis, and used only sample survey data. (GT)

Provides recent data on what prime time television is teaching about sex. Compares the frequency of various sexual behaviors with the frequencies measured by earlier studies. Finds an increase in rate of sexual behavior and no portrayal of possible consequences. (RS)