Examines the role of motives, attitudes, and audience activity in explaining affective, cognitive, and behavioral involvement of daytime soap opera viewers. Finds that viewing attention and perceived realism of soap opera content correlated with parasocial interaction, suggesting that parasocial interaction may be a functional alternative to…

Argues for a distinction between fluency and automaticity of procedures in writing. Presents empirical results that suggest a prominent difference between skilled and less skilled writing is the extent of metacognitive control over writing subprocesses. (MS)

Concludes that cable television subscribers watch more news programs than do nonsubscribers, and that Cable News Network viewers watch even more. (FL)

Discusses the limitations of previous energy conservation programs in affecting the behavior of individual consumers. Suggests that the rational-economic model upon which they were based needs to be supplemented with alternative psychosociological models in developing future programs. (EVL)

Argues that, although most people dislike writing, instructors can make the task less onerous for young students. Suggests that the presence of both feeling and awareness of an audience can facilitate writing. Includes segments of interviews with professional writers and samples of seven-year-olds' writings. (SG)

A review of the history of the "Australian Journal of Education" looks at the journal's role and the audiences it serves, the journal's content during its 30-year history, areas worthy of more attention, and implications for its future. (MSE)

Analyzes earlier studies which suggest that women are better than men in considering audience during writing tasks. Argues that little difference actually exists between males and females as they construct a verbal and visual set of instructions. Provides data from original research on this topic. (HB)

Investigates the effects of letter writing on the writing of sixth graders. Describes the process of establishing a communicative relationship between the writer and the audience. Finds that students' writing improved in the following areas: length, syntax, paragraphing, openings and closings, questions, topics, and borrowed features. (PRA)

Discusses the difficulties with anticipating reader needs and evaluating a text's effectiveness. Reviews current methods of evaluating audience needs such as peer review and audience testing. Describes a reader-focused assignment detailing the class preparation, peer review, reader testing, reader response, and student response to reader…

Uses ethnographic field methods to investigate the ways that scientific authors develop an understanding of their audiences. Finds that, rather than writing a text for an abstract audience, these scientists engaged their readers in direct interactions to obtain a clearer sense of their concerns. (RS)

Discusses eight limiting factors on media effects, identifying and raising research questions about agents and structures that limit the potential effects of the mass media on the behavior and attitudes of people and on the actions of institutions. Discusses the ignorance of researchers about how people use, and live with, the mass media. (SR)

Shares one strategy used to empower preservice and inservice teachers as they respond to children's literature--the creation of Personal Text Sets. Examines teachers' reflections concerning their Personal Text Sets. Considers how teachers share with their students books that have touched their hearts. Describes how they create communities for…

The purpose of this naturalistic study was to extend our understanding of the ways in which consideration of audience may be salient in diverse students' and teachers' approaches to literacy. Data related to literacy interactions in one school were collected from the preschool class and three multiage elementary classrooms. Findings indicated that…

In this article, the author talks about the "December 7, 1941 Project," a partnership between Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY) and a local elementary school. The project brought together 4th and 5th grade students and teachers with community elders, artists and parents, using oral history and drama education to investigate memories…

Asserts the necessity of developing a U.S. audience educated to appreciate classical music. Discusses a number of innovative programs across the country designed to increase audience participation and appreciation. Proposes implementing outreach and education courses in professional music schools. (MJP)