An Exploratory Study of 3-2-1 Contact

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This research project will explore a number of factors concerning the children's television series "3-2-1 Contact" including: (1) awareness of the series on the part of children, parents, and teachers; (2) perceptions of appeal and comprehensibility of the program format among both viewers and non-viewers; (3) the demographics and viewing habits of viewers and teacher users; (4) reasons for particular modes of viewing and use; and (5) impacts that result from viewing. A major goal of this exploratory study is to identify factors that require more detailed, controlled research before their influence can be fully understood and that offer promise of productive research because their influence is clearly significant. The study will focus on 100 children in the 8-12 year age range (the target audience), 100 viewers in the 4-7 year age, 100 parents of viewers, and 150 teachers of grades 3-6. Two-hour group sessions will provide study subjects with opportunities to respond to questions on series awareness, modes of viewing and using the series, and series impact. Subjects will complete written questionnaires, view selected program segments from the series, and then participate in oral interviews. The expected outcomes of the study are: (1) a description of the viewing audience; (2) an understanding of patterns of series viewing at home and use in the schools; (3) the role of parents and teachers in stimulating children to view the series; (4) a picture of audience response to program formats and performers; and (5) a measure of program comprehensibility among different types of viewers. The final outcome will be a comprehensive research model for additional study of "3-2-1 Contact" as a vehicle for science education.