Back to results

University of the Pacific

The effect of television viewing on college students : an EEG analysis of cerebral asymmetry

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The controversy over the effects of television viewing on human behavior has drawn a great deal of attention over the last decade. This study sought to investigate this area by looking at cortical response to television viewing.</p> <p>The subjects in the study consisted of 24 men and 24 women (m=l9 .6 years) who were monitored for bilateral EEG alpha (8-13 Hz) brain wave production while viewing a television commercial (verbal and nonverbal/ spatial) and were then tested for recall at the end of the session.</p> <p>The analysis of variance for a split-plot factorial design (S.P.F. 222.43; Kirk, 1968) revealed that while there were no differences between cerebral hemispheres, there were significant increases in the amount of alpha brain .wave production (p <. 01) during the trials.</p> <p>The results of this study support the first hypothesis that "EEG alpha levels will increase with repeated exposure to televised commercials." The significance of this finding is that it contrasts sharply with earlier research and indicates that repeated viewing of the same commercial results in an erosion of the viewer's interest.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Graduate Studies
Year dc:date.available
1984

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sheffel, William B.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Doug Matheson

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Rights

dc:rights

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/470
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-1469

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of the Pacific
Base URL
scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sheffel, William B.. The effect of television viewing on college students : an EEG analysis of cerebral asymmetry. Thesis thesis, 1984. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/470