TY - JOUR
T1 - Television viewing and symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity across time
T2 - The importance of research questions
AU - Stevens, Tara
AU - Barnard-Brak, Lucy
AU - To, Yen
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - The importance of well-specified research questions in the evaluation of early predictors of later inattention and hyperactivity is examined. In an analysis of a nationally representative sample of 2,717 children aged 4 to 10, latent growth trajectories for television viewing and inattention and hyperactivity are determined and the relationship of the two constructs examined. Analyses reveal a logistic latent growth model as the best description of the trajectory of television viewing across time, whereas a quadratic trend represents the best portrayal of the trajectory for symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. Results do not support the presence of a meaningful relationship between television viewing and inattention and hyperactivity, which is inconsistent with previous findings from the same data set. The importance of the nature of well-specified research questions and the need to use contemporary longitudinal evaluation techniques to avoid misleading conclusions based on limited analyses and results are discussed.
AB - The importance of well-specified research questions in the evaluation of early predictors of later inattention and hyperactivity is examined. In an analysis of a nationally representative sample of 2,717 children aged 4 to 10, latent growth trajectories for television viewing and inattention and hyperactivity are determined and the relationship of the two constructs examined. Analyses reveal a logistic latent growth model as the best description of the trajectory of television viewing across time, whereas a quadratic trend represents the best portrayal of the trajectory for symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. Results do not support the presence of a meaningful relationship between television viewing and inattention and hyperactivity, which is inconsistent with previous findings from the same data set. The importance of the nature of well-specified research questions and the need to use contemporary longitudinal evaluation techniques to avoid misleading conclusions based on limited analyses and results are discussed.
KW - Attention and behavior problems
KW - Early childhood
KW - Longitudinal studies
KW - Television
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=69549120540&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1053815109338562
DO - 10.1177/1053815109338562
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:69549120540
SN - 1053-8151
VL - 31
SP - 215
EP - 226
JO - Journal of Early Intervention
JF - Journal of Early Intervention
IS - 3
ER -