Chapter IIReview of Related Literature and Studies

This chapter represents the related literature and studies regarding the topic Television: Its effects to the Academic Performance of Selected College Students of Batangas State University. Theories regarding Academic performance are thoroughly discussed.

2.1 Academic PerformanceBased on Wikipedia academic performance or (academic) achievement is the outcome

of education — the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals.Academic performance is commonly measured by examinations or continuous assessment but there is no general agreement on how it is best tested or which aspects are most important — procedural knowledge such as skills or declarative knowledge such as facts.

Individual differences in academic performance have been linked to differences in intelligence and personality. Students with higher mental ability as demonstrated by IQ tests (quick learners) and those who are higher in conscientiousness (linked to effort and achievement motivation) tend to achieve highly in academic settings. A recent meta-analysis suggested that mental curiosity (as measured by typical intellectual engagement) has an important influence on academic achievement in addition to intelligence and conscientiousness.

Children’s semi-structured home learning environment, transitions into a more structured learning environment when children start first grade. Early academic achievement enhances later academic achievement.

Parent’s academic socialization is a term describing the way parents influence students’ academic achievement by shaping students’ skills, behaviors and attitudes towards school. Parent influence students through the environment and discourse parents have with their children. Academic socialization can be influenced by parents’ socio-economic status. Highly educate parents tend to have more stimulating learning environments.

Children’s’ first few years of life are crucial to the development of language and social skills. School preparedness in these areas help students adjust to academic expectancies. Another very important enhancer of academic achievement is the presence of physical activity. Studies have shown that physical activity can increase neurotic activity in the brain. Exercise specifically increases executive brain functions such as attention span and working memory.

2.2 Television2.2.1. Definition of television

The Manchester Guardian but is now the Grauniad, of London, New York, Sydney, and counting, thinks television is about promoting and reviewing programs. That means telling readers what shows are about and whether they are good, either via the privileged ear of the interviewer or the acerbic eye of the critic. It is largely nationalist in its orientation—if you’re not in English and on ‘our’ screens, you don’t matter.

2.2.2 Why people watch tv?Thinkbox, the commercial television marketing association, found six main reasons that people

watch television: to unwind, for comfort, to connect, for an experience, to escape, or to indulge.

While there is much to be said for trying to understand why people watch television, rather than simply measuring how much they watch, reducing it to these six reasons seems rather simplistic.

It is interesting that the psychology of why people watch television, which is largely about their social and emotional needs, is far from aligned from the public service mission of broadcasters to inform, educate and entertain, as embodied in the values of the BBC.

While for many the primary purpose of television is to entertain, it might disappoint some programme makers that there is so little emphasis on information or education.

Yet in a typical week, around a fifth of the top hundred rating shows in Britain are news bulletins. That alone should suggest that people are interested in finding out what is happening in their world. That might be explained by a need for a sense of connection, but it might also suggest curiosity or a need for novelty.

In fact, news, sport, weather and some entertainment shows represent the majority of television that is genuinely ‘live’, while other genres such as drama and documentary are invariably recorded and arguably better viewed on demand when most convenient.

The researchers suggest ,that video on demand excels at satisfying personal approaches to television, specifically indulging and escaping, but is less equipped for more social needs such as unwinding and seeking comfort, a conclusion that appears arguable at best.

The study supports its finding by the observation that on 54% of occasions people were watching live television they were with someone else compared to 30% for video on demand.