Examines the role of adult-oriented campaign news and campaign advertising in the political socialization of children. (Author/GW)

The role of the family in teaching the child potential behaviors and norms for adult citizenship roles--anticipatory socialization--is explored in this study. Previous research has suggested that the structure of the family's communication patterns play an important role in socialization, and that families can be categorized according to emphasis…

Elementary school children frequently watch child-oriented news segments on Saturday morning television, and they occasionally view network newscasts. News viewing is mildly associated with political knowledge and public affairs interest for older children, but younger viewers learn little. Parent/child discussions of news are also related to…

A study was made of the reactions of 544 Tallahassee high school students to a public television series, "Today in the Legislature", which presented segments of a session of the state legislature of Florida in six 50-minute programs. The main goal was to determine the major effect of mass media on political knowledge and its influence on…

The document examines the influence of political television commercials on voting behavior. In addition, the paper reports new data concerning the role of voter-oriented ads in socializing children to the political environment. Part I characterizes political ads and presents findings and conclusions of three voter surveys recently published in…