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TV Attitudes Scale
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About TV Attitudes Scale
Scale Name
TV Attitudes Scale
Author Details
L. Rowell Huesmann, Leonard D. Eron, Raymond Klein, Patrick Brice, and Paulette Fischer
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The TV Attitudes scale, developed by L. Rowell Huesmann, Leonard D. Eron, Raymond Klein, Patrick Brice, and Paulette Fischer in 1983, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure children’s attitudes toward television violence. Targeting students in grades 2-5 (ages 7-11), the scale assesses the extent to which children view violent TV content as acceptable or realistic, reflecting beliefs that may mediate the link between media exposure and aggressive behavior. Published in Developmental Psychology, the scale was part of a longitudinal study exploring the effects of television violence on aggression, building on social learning theory, which posits that media models shape attitudes and behaviors through observational learning.
The scale comprises items (exact number not specified, but typically 10-15 based on similar measures) rated on a simple Likert-type scale (e.g., 1 = “disagree” to 3 or 4 = “agree”), designed for young children’s comprehension (e.g., “It’s okay for people to hit each other on TV” or “TV violence is like real life”). Higher scores indicate greater acceptance of television violence. Validated in a diverse sample from the Chicago area, the scale was used to test hypotheses about media influence during a developmental period when children are particularly susceptible to media effects. Its low internal consistency (0.38) and one-year stability (0.36) reflect challenges in measuring young children’s attitudes consistently, possibly due to cognitive immaturity or item variability.
Psychologists, media researchers, and educators use the TV Attitudes scale to study media violence effects, inform interventions like media literacy programs, and explore links to aggression. Its focus on young children and television violence makes it relevant for early prevention efforts, though its English-only availability, low reliability, and specific age range limit broader application.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the TV Attitudes scale from primary sources, such as Huesmann et al. (1983) in Developmental Psychology or authorized research archives, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses opinions about TV violence to understand media effects, emphasizing confidentiality and age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate each item based on their beliefs about violence on TV, using the simplified Likert scale, typically reflecting current attitudes.
- Approximate time for completion is about 5-7 minutes, depending on the number of items and children’s reading or comprehension ability.
- Administer in a classroom or research setting, using paper or oral formats for younger children, ensuring a quiet environment to promote focused responses.
Reliability and Validity
The TV Attitudes scale has limited psychometric rigor, as reported by Huesmann et al. (1983). Internal consistency is low, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.38, indicating poor item cohesion, likely due to the diverse nature of attitudes toward TV violence or developmental variability in young children’s responses. One-year test-retest reliability is similarly low (r = 0.36), suggesting modest stability, possibly reflecting changing media exposure or cognitive development.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as exposure to violent TV content (r ≈ 0.30-0.50) and self-reported aggression, as shown in Huesmann’s longitudinal findings. Discriminant validity is implied by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is evidenced by its ability to predict increased aggression in children with pro-violence attitudes, consistent with social learning theory, and its use in identifying media-related risk factors. No factor analyses are reported to confirm its structure, and the low reliability limits its robustness. These properties suggest the scale’s utility is best for exploratory research in media effects, with cautious interpretation.
Available Versions
06-Items
Reference
Huesmann, L. R., Eron, L. D., Klein, R., Brice, P., & Fischer, P. (1983). Mitigating the imitation of aggressive behaviors by changing children’s attitudes about media violence. Journal of personality and social psychology, 44(5), 899.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the TV Attitudes scale measure?
It measures children’s attitudes toward television violence, focusing on acceptability and realism.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, media researchers, and educators studying media effects on young children.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes.
Is the scale specific to young children?
Yes, it targets grades 2-5 (ages 7-11).
Can the scale inform media literacy programs?
Yes, it identifies pro-violence attitudes, but low reliability requires caution.
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