There's some interesting data in a student essay by an author who
observed college student TV habits of a relatively small sample
population for a short period of time, but made the following
observations:
The purpose was to determine if there was any difference in television
viewing based upon gender, how much TV college students watch per day;
if viewers look forward to watching a particular show; if college
students use TV as an escape from the everyday pressures; and, if they
?channel surf? or remain with one channel throughout an entire
program. Most of the participants were sophomores with a few freshmen
and juniors.
Reality TV seemed to be the most popular category among college
students. According to the survey, game shows, specifically dating
shows, were the most popular among the female participants. Sports,
specifically Sports Center, ranked as the most popular among the males
surveyed. The second most popular category was comedy. Among males,
the Simpsons was the most popular. Females split their votes between
Boy Meets World and Everybody Loves Raymond.
"Night" is when most college students watch TV (60%). Other
participants divided their answers; 20% watched at late night, and 20%
watched in the afternoon. Among the females taking the survey, 60%
stated that they look forward to a particular show and rated that show
as being their favorite, 40% listed that they do not look forward to
any particular show. However, 80% of the males stated that they look
forward to their favorite show.
When asked if the participants use TV as an escape from
everyday pressures of college and with whom they watch TV, the answers
were almost unanimous. None of the females said that they use TV as
an escape mechanism. and only one of four males listed TV as a form of
escape from everyday pressure. Only 10% claim to watch TV alone. 70%
watch TV with friends and roommates, 20% watch with friends,
relatives, alone, and/or with significant others.
Females are more likely to ?channel surf? than males. 60% of females
like to channel surf. 60% of males like to stay with a show until its
conclusion.
Students who choose to ?channel surf? tend to watch more TV than those
who stick with a particular channel.
The average amount of TV viewed per day among the females was 0-3
hours. 60%say they watch 0-3 hours per day, 40% say they estimate
they watch 3-6 hours per day.
All females in the 3-6 hour category also respond that they like to
?channel surf,? while only one out of three who watch 0-3 hours per
day ?channel surfs.?
Four out of five males only watch 0-3 hours per day, one out of five
watches 3-6 hours daily. Males who watch 3-6 hours per day also like
to ?channel surf,? with only one out of four who watch 0-3 hours per
day chooses to ?channel surf.?
The study was done by Justin Smith and can be found at at
http://www.english.iup.edu/mhayward/EN202/Papers02/Justin.htm
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