Motivations for Television Viewing Among Deaf and Hearing Students

Television viewing motives among hearing and hearing-impaired teenagers were compared in this study. Additional measurements were taken on the sample's frequency of daily televiewing, frequency of specific program viewing, enjoyment of specific programs, attraction to the medium, and perceptions of how true-to-life television portrayals are. Factor analysis revealed seven viewing motives; differences between hearing and hearing-impaired respondents were found on three motives. Frequency of televiewing, affinity toward television, and perceived realism of television were each explained by the seven viewing motivations. Discriminant analysis of the data correctly classified 83% of the hearing-impaired and 78% of the hearing respondents. Results of this study suggest an explanatory framework in which hearing-impaired viewers and their interaction with television can be better understood.