Search

In television programing, pacing is generally defined as the relative speed with which a program appears to progress or the rate at which its material is presented. A study examined whether a fast-paced news show would produce a higher degree of accurate recall of content than would a slow paced program, and whether differences in pacing would affect the degree of accurate recognition of program content. Sixty-two college students were randomly assigned to two counter-balanced presentation sequences where they saw two specially constructed program segments, one fast paced, one slow paced. Pacing had been determined by a researcher-designed program pacing value scale. After viewing each segment, the subjects completed recall and recognition measures. In addition, after viewing both segments, the subjects completed an instrument that asked them to compare the effectiveness of each segment and to list differences, if any, they perceived in the pacing of the two. The findings suggest that pacing could be a major factor in recall of program content and that faster pacing resulted in greater recall of television news. (A copy of the Program Pacing Value Scale is appended.) (FL)