Sex differences in television viewing and attention: do males really channel surf more than females?
Date of Award
1996
Degree Name
Psychology
College
College of Liberal Arts
Type of Degree
M.A.
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Steven P. Mewaldt
Second Advisor
Helen E. Linkey
Third Advisor
Leonard J. Deutsch
Abstract
Channel surfing is often thought of as a male-dominated pastime; however, previously there was no objective data supporting this conclusion. In the present study television viewing and channel surfing were monitored in 44 college students who simultaneously performed an auditory vigilance task. In addition, a survey was administered to determine self-reported individual television viewing habits. Results showed that males channel surfed at almost twice the rate of females. In addition, after the first test tone they generally detected more tones in the vigilance task than females. It was concluded the high channel surfing rate of males reflected lower levels of program involvement and attention.
Subject(s)
Grazing (Television) – Psychology.
Television – Psychology.
Recommended Citation
Morrison, Melissa, "Sex differences in television viewing and attention: do males really channel surf more than females?" (1996). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1741.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1741
Included in
Comparative Psychology Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Television Commons
