Title

Naturalistic Study of the Effects of Exposure to Sesame Tree on 5-6 Year Old Children’s Attitudes and Awareness in Northern Ireland

Research Team

Professor Paul Connolly (PI), Dr Susan Kehoe, Dr Emma Larkin and Dr Debie Galanouli

Timescale

March 2008 – November 2008

Funder

Sesame Workshop

Aims and Objectives

To evaluate the effects of natural exposure to the television series Sesame Tree as broadcast on BBC on 5-6 year old children’s attitudes and awareness.

Methodology

A longitudinal study involving approximately 800 children in P2 classes (5-6 year olds) in 39 primary schools selected randomly across Northern Ireland. Tests were administered to each child individually in March 2008 and are due to be administered again in November 2008. The tests include measures of the children’s: environmental awareness; willingness to be inclusive of others; awareness and positive attitudes towards cultural activities associated with their own and other communities. Measures of the children’s exposure to the television series were also taken at two time points inbetween the pretests and posttests and will also be taken again during the posttests.

The main focus for the analysis will be to assess whether there are any relationships between children’s levels of exposure to the television series and changes in their attitudes and levels of awareness with regard to the areas outlined above. The analysis will also seek to ascertain whether any variations exist in these relationships for differing subgroups of children.

See also the two related studies:

·         Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluation of the Effects of Sesame Tree on 5-6 Year Old Children's Attitudes and Awareness

·         Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluation of the Effects of the Sesame Tree Outreach Pack on 5-6 Year Old Children's Attitudes and Awareness

Outputs

A final report will be available to the funders by March 2009.