Uses factor analysis to compare the surveillance role and communication utility of television and newspapers. Finds much variance explained by these two uses. Finds those who seek hard news on television also seek hard news in newspapers. (RS)

Sociolinguistic analysis of English borrowings in Japanese television and print advertising supported hypotheses that the primary reason for loanword use was to make the product seem more modern and sophisticated and that there was a relationship between loan functions and such audience characteristics as gender, age, occupation, and background.…

Uses semantic differential to assess specific and global attitudes of children toward the theater experience. Shows that the semantic differential can be used with fifth grade children. (SR)

Examines the text, audience readings, and historical placement of an episode of "Cagney & Lacey" concerning abortion. Suggests that the ability of audiences to shape their own readings is seriously constrained by a variety of factors in any given rhetorical situation. (SR)

Posits that organizations in crisis situations must address multiple audiences with distinct needs. Analyzes the public communication offered by Jack in the Box restaurants during a food poisoning outbreak. Finds that ambiguity may provide organizations with a means for satisfying the divergent needs of their audiences--even where these distinct…

Studies a large sample of Dutch children. Finds that a positive-intense daydreaming style was stimulated by watching nonviolent children's programs and was inhibited by watching violent dramatic programs, while an aggressive-heroic daydreaming style was stimulated by watching violent dramatic programs and inhibited by watching nonviolent programs.…

States that scientific journal article introductions usually open with standard moves that introduce the community to new findings in specific literature. Presents a study in which 4 articles on chaos theory were analyzed--then 12 scientists were asked to think aloud while reading them. Emphasizes that scientific readers reacted differently.…

This study analyzed four characteristics of political commercials to determine their impact on television viewers' reactions: (1) issue versus image strategies; (2) attack versus support appeals; (3) presence and absence of music; and (4) visual content, either with families or in professional campaign settings. Memory measures and attitudes are…

Marketing professionals offer these suggestions to college communicators: segment audiences; convey the campus' position on issues; express the same theme in various communications; frame the message in the context of meeting the audience's needs; let editorial content guide design; use sophisticated but cost-effective design; solicit opinions;…

Finds that middle and high school students change their views of television watching along three ways of evaluating television: as a "magic window" to reality; as a utility route to information; and as an identity source of almost real people. Concludes that views of television reality are complex and dynamic. (SR)

Children's discussion of television horror shows is the basis for examining television's effect on children and the relationship between television and reading. It is recommended that more attention be paid to the importance of social contexts in which both reading and responding to television occur. Implications for classroom instruction are…

A literature review of listening comprehension research covers five areas: text characteristics; interlocutor characteristics; task characteristics (variation in listening purpose); listener characteristics; and process characteristics (variation in the listener's cognitive activities and the nature of the speaker/listener interaction). (Contains…

Relates a classroom teacher's observations of how students, working in pairs consisting of one English-as-a-Second-Language student and one remedial student, help each other to move forward in the writing process. (PRA)

Tests the impact of cable, VCRs, and remote control devices on fear of crime and interpersonal mistrust. Finds that interpersonal mistrust was linked to greater exposure to cable's broadcast-type channels, but fear of crime and mistrust were negatively related to increased exposure to specialized cable channels. Finds fear of crime linked…

Chronicles a poetry session conducted in a state mental hospital. Notes that nothing in the session corroborated the staff's grim warning that the level of the hospital population was low. Suggests that poetry therapy can be an instrument for the restoration of heart and mind. (RS)