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Thirty prekindergarten children, randomly assigned, were videotaped while viewing the same pre-taped Sesame Street program either as single viewers ( N=6) or as group viewers (6 groups of 4 Ss each). Video-tapes were systematically coded for visual attention, modeling behaviors, and other meta-communication. Both groups and single viewers averaged eye contact with over 80% of the program despite exhibiting more than one nonviewing behavior per minute and high mobility while viewing. Group viewers exhibited a large number and variety of verbal and nonverbal, targeted and (probably) nontargeted modeling behaviors; single viewers much fewer. Overt program-elicited amusement was more frequent for groups than for singles. Children exhibited vicarious participation as evidenced by one direct reaction to the program about every four minutes. Other behaviors included (a) labeling (b) program appeal behaviors, (c) associating, (d) fear references, (e) evaluating, (f) reading, (g) predicting, and (h) nonprogram related verbalization.
Natalie L. Sproull (Thu,) studied this question.