Choosing television programs by family vote

Abstract

This study investigated the nature of verbal interaction and interpersonal influence operating within middle‐class Midwestern families as they selected television programs for group viewing in their homes. A task‐specific Bales‐type coding scheme was used to analyze the talk generated by fathers, mothers, older and younger children. Interaction structure, ability to express a preference, preference consensus, and perceptions of influence reveal differential success in gaining access to favored programs. Younger children, who are known to control viewing under other circumstances, were the least successful participants in this verbal negotiation.