The Effects of Electronic Media on the Cognitive, Social, & Emotional Development of Children & Adolescents

Welcoming Remarks and Introductions
Yvonne Maddox, Deputy Director
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Conference Logistics
Lynne Haverkos, Program Director (NICHD)

Special Audience, Special Concerns: Children and the Media  (PDF - 154 KB)
Ellen Wartella (University of California, Riverside) Biosketch (PDF - 16 KB)
A brief historical perspective on the increased influence of electronic media in the lives of children, adolescents, and families, and a statistical summary of media exposure and use among children and adolescents.

Family Context and Children’s Media Use (PDF - 1.19 MB)
Amy Jordan (The University of Pennsylvania) Biosketch (PDF - 15 KB)
A brief examination of educational, recreational, and “babysitter” usages of media, and role of family interaction and structure as influences on media use. Abstract

Children's Use of Media in School: Enabling Access to Advanced Mathematics (PDF - 310 KB)
Jeremy M. Roschelle (SRI International) Biosketch (PDF - 16 KB)
A consideration of the consequences of large-scale use of graphing technologies on students' mathematical proficiency and factors that mediate the impact of school technology use on children's prospects for using mathematics to understand and succeed in their world. Abstract

The Media Landscape for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers (PDF - 1.63 MB)
Rosemarie Truglio (Sesame Workshop) Biosketch (PDF - 15 KB)
An examination of media use for children from birth to four years with insight from Sesame Workshop. Abstract

Group Discussion
Sandra Hofferth (University of Maryland): Discussant and moderator Biosketch (PDF - 14 KB)
Data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PDF - 212 KB) will provide insight into parental decisions affecting children’s time use.

Lunch

Media’s Influence on Early Learning, Memory, and Performance(PDF - 1.22 MB)
Rachel Barr (Georgetown University) Biosketch (PDF - 20 KB)
Imitation, learning, and memory development in young infants exposed to electronic media.

Influence of Media on Cognitive Development (PDF - 67 KB)
Dan Anderson (University of Massachusetts) Biosketch (PDF - 14 KB)
An examination of media’s influence on cognitive development with consideration of age, gender, and ethnicity.

Influence of Media on Children’s Attention and Comprehension (PDF - 169 KB)
David Bickham (Harvard University) Biosketch (PDF - 24 KB)
A look at the influences of electronic media on children’s attention, comprehension, and educational readiness.

Group Discussion
Vicky Rideout (Kaiser Family Foundation): Moderator
Biosketch (PDF - 20 KB)

Break

Effects of Media on Social and Emotional Development (PDF - 745 KB)
Joanne Cantor (University of Wisconsin, Madison) Biosketch (PDF 24 KB)
An examination of media’s influence on children’s fear and other aspects of emotional and social well-being.

Effects of Media on Children’s Empathy, Creativity, and Imagination (PDF - 89 KB)
Dorothy Singer (Yale University) Biosketch (PDF - 14 KB)
A look at how media use influences children’s imagination, play, empathy, and creativity.

Immersive Environments & Media: Language, Literacy, & Cultural Issues (PDF - 444 KB)
Sandra Calvert (Georgetown University) Biosketch (PDF - 24 KB)
How language and literacy skills develop for children from different cultural backgrounds in the current media environment as well as ways to maximize literacy skills in the 21st century.

Group Discussion
Amy Jordan (The University of Pennsylvania) Biosketch (PDF - 16 KB)

Adjourn

Welcome and Overview of the Day
Lynne Haverkos, Child Development and Behavior Branch, NICHD

Reflections on Theory and Methodology in Media Research (PDF - 239 KB)
Dimitri Christakis (University of Washington) Biosketch (PDF - 15 KB)
Theoretical frameworks and methodological principles useful in media research with a summary of the National Academies of Sciences workshop on media research methods and measures.

An Ecological Approach to Studying Youth and the Media (PDF - 401 KB)
Susan McHale (Penn State) Biosketch (PDF - 15 KB)
Consideration of contextual issues including family dynamics in media research methodology.

Group Discussion
Dan Anderson (University of Massachusetts): Moderator
Biosketch (PDF - 14 KB)

Break

Identifying Gaps and New Directions in Media Research (PDF - 162 KB)
Michael Rich (Harvard University): Discussant and Moderator
Biosketch (PDF - 17 KB)

Concluding Remarks

Adjourn