THE IMPACT OF A CULTURAL CHILDRENS PROGRAM AND ADULT MEDIATION ON CHILDRENS KNOWLEDGE OF AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS OPERA

In this experiment, we investigated whether adult mediation during a c ultural children's program stimulates children's knowledge oi and atti tudes towards opera. One hundred twenty lour children were randomly as signed to one oi two viewing conditions. In the mediation condition a coviewing adult provided children with additional comments and showed a positive attitude towards opera. In the non-mediation condition a co viewing adult did not give comments and showed a neutral attitude towa rds the program watched. Children in the mediation condition recalled significantly more opera information. In both the mediation and the no n-mediation condition children's attitude towards opera was stimulated by the cultural children's program.