A study examined the attitudes of legislators toward issues facing the Commonwealth of Kentucky, to determine (1) if there were differences in legislators' perception of the usefulness of mass media and interpersonal sources for information, (2) if there was a greater evidence of mass media usage among legislators who can be considered opinion…

Defining videotex and teletext as the most revolutionary innovations in communication since the invention of movable type, this paper describes The Interactive Videotex Project of public television station KPBS in San Diego, California. Following a brief overview of videotex and teletext technologies, the paper discusses (1) the development of the…

A study examined the source of important voter perceptions during the 1984 presidential election and their impact on the choice between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale--specifically perceptions involving the effects of either a Reagan or a Mondale victory on the American economy. The origins of these economic perceptions were sought in…

A study examined the relationship between the number of scholastic publications organizations to which school newspapers belong and the newspapers' ratings in a national contest/critique. It was hypothesized that membership would not have significant impact on ratings. A sample of 189 newspapers was drawn from membership records of the Columbia…

The paper examines the role the mass media play in the functioning of black families. Emphasis is on the perspectives and images of black families that are presented via commercial television, newspapers, and magazines. Divided into four parts, the paper discusses the following: (1) the theoretical framework around which the paper is centered,…

This synthesis of reports from authors representing seven different countries discusses computerization as it applies to the management and evaluation of the educational process at all levels in developed countries. Focusing on the computerization of educational administration, the first of three sections of the paper suggests that advantages of…

Defining agenda-setting as the ability of the mass media to influence the level of the public's awareness and perceptions of political issues, a study was conducted to examine the agenda-setting power of the black periodical press in the United States. Survey responses collected by the University of Michigan Center for Political Studies were…

Noting the many difficulties in conceptualizing and analyzing development communication, this paper enriches the concept by linking it with a particular form of political, economic, and social organization common to many developing nations--the patron-client network. After a brief review of relevant communication and political science literature…

A study surveyed 276 residents of Indianapolis, Indiana to determine how the people might be changing media use and spending habits in a time of growing interest in video cassette recorders (VCRs), backyard satellite dishes, pay-TV, and personal computers. Questions were designed to determine the degree to which people would buy into the new…

Current issues in educational communications and technology are addressed in this collection of 48 papers, in which research reports predominate. Topics discussed include factors related to the learner, e.g., field dependence/independence, learning strategies, information processing, spatial ability, cognitive style, and cognitive strategies.…

Survey data were gathered from 218 Black, Jewish, and other nonblack respondents in a study that examined the relationships between knowledge of specific facts related to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict in the Middle East and the respondents' education, ethnicity, religion, media use, exposure to related news items, and interest in world affairs.…

Separate meta-analyses have been completed recently on the effectiveness of computer-based education (CBE) in elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and nontraditional postsecondary institutions. Several conclusions can be drawn from these meta-analyses. First, although CBA has not been uniformly successful in all its guises and at all…

Comparing the Nigerian press during the colonial period of British rule and the post-independence period, a case study examined two press laws: the Newspaper Ordinance No. 10 of 1903, and Decree No. 4 of 1984 (Public Officers Protection against False Accusation Decree). Using qualitative research methodology, the study investigated how the…

In order to determine some of the effects of children's television, a study investigated the communicative response repertoire of primary female characters in Saturday morning children's cartoons as perceived by children. Those perceptions were then compared with those of the researchers, formulated through previous studies, showing a relationship…

A telephone survey of a random sample of operators of mid-to large-size farms in Virginia was used to identify informational needs of the Virginia farm operator, to evaluate farmer perception of Virginia Cooperative Extension Service programs, and to gather data on the publications read and other media used by farmers. A total of 334 20-question…