Some Observations on the Social Effects of Television

DURING the summer of 1948, the Columbia although this result may be misleading since Broadcasting System and Rutgers University the impact is not uniform for various segentered into a joint continuing project to ments of the audience; to young children study and document the social consequences television is not a substitute activity but of television ownership in a middle-sized something over and above the regular activity Eastern city. This paper reports some of the patterns. Finally, there is evidence that telefindings from the first phase of the project. vision is responsible for new family interests The most recent additions to the TV audience and widened circles of friends. are being contributed by the lower socioThe authors are members of the Departeconomic levels; TV is exerting an apparent ment of Sociology at Rutgers, Chairman and over-all effect on other leisure time activities, Research Associates, respectively.