Media Violence file:

1. Survey coding sheet

2. Survey condition “DOES CAUSE VIOLENCE” (with DV)
3. Survey condition “Does NOT cause violence” (with DV)
4. Survey conditions “neutral” (with DV)
5. Debriefing
 Survey: Media Violence
Media coding sheet
Variable name: Ssex Variable label: Subject gender
Values: 1 = male 2 = female

Variable name: IV Variable label: (violence on aggression)

Values: 1= Does; (value label= Does )

2= Does not; (vaue label = Does not
3= Control (value label = Control)

1 = Strongly DISAGREE; 2=Disagree; 3= Neutral; 4 = Agree; 5= strongly AGREE

Variable names:
1. Q 1. Extensive exposure to media violence causes children to become more aggressive.

2. Q2. _____ Exposure to media can directly cause children to become more prone to violence

3. Q3. _____ Violence in the media has increased over the past few decades.

4 Q4_____ There is less media violence in the U.S. than in most other countries.

4. Q5_____ Exposure to media violence is not likely to directly cause children to become aggressive

6. Q6__ Children who are strongly predisposed to aggression are influenced by media violence

7. Q7_____ Children who are naturally aggressive are drawn to media violence

8. _Q7___ There needs to be federal legislation to restrict media violence available to children.

9. Q9_____ Control of children’s exposure to media violence is the responsibility of the media industry.

10. _Q10__ Control of children’s exposure to media violence is the responsibility of the parents.
 Survey: Media Violence

The purpose of this survey is to assess individuals’ feelings about the effects of media
violence on causing aggression in children. “Media violence” is used to describe any
portrayal of violence towards humans in motion pictures, television, and musical
recordings. To familiarize you with the most recent scientific evidence on the effects of media violence,
the following information is provided: (please take a moment to read the following information)

Research has shown that Media Violence does, in fact, cause aggression in children. The American Medical
Association and American Psychiatric Association have found sufficient evidence to sustain a belief that
exposure to media violence DOES influence children’s behavior.

Noted researcher, Albert Kantowitz, proposes “that children learn from observing portrayals on television as
well as from observing the actions of live persons. “Findings from a wide range of laboratory experiments
and field studies support this proposition.” (Comstock & Bender, 1975, pp.26-27).

Dr. James Berkowitz, a noted sociologist, agrees stating, “when circumstances are similar to those shown on
TV, our inhibitions regarding interpersonal violence are weakened, especially in those instances in which
television violence is rewarded” (Tannenbaum & Zillmann, 1998). Scientists have supported studies linking
media violence and child aggression, arguing that the studies have been consistent in demonstrating the
effects in laboratory and field studies.

In light of the above evidence there clearly appears to be a direct causal link between exposure to media
violence on subsequent violent behavior.

Please use the following scale:

1 = Strongly DISAGREE; 2=Disagree; 3= Neutral; 4 = Agree; 5= strongly AGREE

1. _____ Extensive exposure to media violence causes children to become more aggressive.

2. _____ Exposure to media can directly cause children to become more prone to violence

3. _____ Violence in the media has increased over the past few decades.

4. ______ There is less media violence in the U.S. than in most other countries.

5. _____ Exposure to media violence is not likely to directly cause children to become aggressive

6. _____ Children who are strongly predisposed to aggression are influenced by media violence vi

7. _____ Children who are naturally aggressive are drawn to media violence

8. _____ There needs to be federal legislation to restrict media violence available to children.

9. _____ Control of children’s exposure to media violence is the responsibility of the media industry.

10. _____ Control of children’s exposure to media violence is the responsibility of the parents.
 Survey: Media Violence

The purpose of this survey is to assess individuals’ feelings about the effects of media
violence on causing aggression in children. “Media violence” is used to describe any
portrayal of violence towards humans in motion pictures, television, and musical
recordings. To familiarize you with the most recent scientific evidence on the effects of media violence,
the following information is provided: (please take a moment to read the following information)

Research has shown that Media Violence does not, in fact, cause aggression in children. The American
Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association have found sufficient evidence that indicates that
exposure to media violence does NOT appreciably influence children’s behavior.

Noted researcher, Albert Kantowitz, proposes “that children learn from observing the actions of live persons,
not portrayals on television.” Findings from a wide range of laboratory experiments and field studies support
this proposition” (Comstock & Bender, 1975, pp.26-27).

Dr. James Berkowitz, a noted sociologist, agrees, stating, “Even when circumstances are similar to those
shown on TV, our inhibitions regarding interpersonal violence are NOT weakened. Even in those instances
in which television violence is rewarded, children are not influenced to act out violently.” (Tannenbaum &
Zillmann,1998). Scientists have questioned studies linking media violence and child aggression, arguing that
the studies have been flawed.

In light of the above evidence there clearly appears to be no direct causal link between exposure to media
violence on subsequent violent behavior.

Please use the following scale:

1 = Strongly DISAGREE; 2=Disagree; 3= Neutral; 4 = Agree; 5= strongly AGREE

1. _____ Extensive exposure to media violence causes children to become more aggressive.

2. _____ Exposure to media can directly cause children to become more prone to violence

3. _____ Violence in the media has increased over the past few decades.

5. ______ There is less media violence in the U.S. than in most other countries.

5. _____ Exposure to media violence is not likely to directly cause children to become aggressive

6. _____ Children who are strongly predisposed to aggression are influenced by media violence vi

7. _____ Children who are naturally aggressive are drawn to media violence

8. _____ There needs to be federal legislation to restrict media violence available to children.

9. _____ Control of children’s exposure to media violence is the responsibility of the media industry.

10. _____ Control of children’s exposure to media violence is the responsibility of the parents.
 Survey: Media Violence

The purpose of this survey is to assess individuals’ feelings about the effects of media
violence on causing aggression in children. “Media violence” is used to describe any
portrayal of violence towards humans in motion pictures, television, and musical
recordings.

Examples are:

(1) Violence portrayed in movies

(2) Lyrics depicting violence towards people
(3) Explicit violence in music videos

Please use the following scale to answer question below:

1 = Strongly DISAGREE; 2=Disagree; 3= Neutral; 4 = Agree; 5= strongly AGREE

1. _____ Extensive exposure to media violence causes children to become more aggressive.

2. _____ Exposure to media can directly cause children to become more prone to violence

3. _____ Violence in the media has increased over the past few decades.

5. _____ There is less media violence in the U.S. than in most other countries.

6. _____ Exposure to media violence is not likely to directly cause children to become aggressive

6. _____ Children who are strongly predisposed to aggression are influenced by media violence

7. _____ Children who are naturally aggressive are drawn to media violence

8. _____ There needs to be federal legislation to restrict media violence available to children.

9. _____ Control of children’s exposure to media violence is the responsibility of the media industry.

10. _____ Control of children’s exposure to media violence is the responsibility of the parents.
 Survey: Media Violence

Debriefing:
In order to have a better understanding of the research project, please read the following:

As stated, one purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding of

how individuals feel about media violence. There was also another purpose
relating to whether or not information from noted scientific researchers can
influences one’s beliefs regarding what they think about the issues of media
violence.

You are probably aware of the recent news events dealing with issues of media
violence. Because of the broad news attention that has recently been given to media
violence, we designed this survey to better understand if such information can
influence one’s opinion.

Therefore, the written information you were given at the beginning of the
survey was not, in fact, actually true, but was only provided to determine if it
would change your opinions on the issue. In reality, the vast amount of research
on the effects of media violence on children is mixed. There are many who argue
convincingly on both sides.

Thank you for your participation in this project, and we are confident that you have helped us to better
understand how information in the news media may or may not influence individuals’ opinions on important
issues.