A series of studies underway at the Audience Research Facility at MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) are examining the influence of interactive video on learning and entertainment television viewing. The first study compared the learning of spatial content from interactive (user controlled video games) versus observational (television) media. Pre-existing cognitive styles (haptic perception and locus of control) were found to influence the subject's ability to perform with the two types of media. The second study in the series examines the influence of user control and interactive structure on learning from television news. The influence of modality preference, and pre-existing media usage patterns are also examined. The final study in the series examines the influence of user control and interactive structure on identification and involvement with characters in the television program "Dallas." The influence of the subjects' general empathy level and pre-existing media patterns will also be examined. A model for examining interactive television and television structures is discussed and results from the first study are summarized. (48 references) (Author/CGD)