This paper summarizes an integrated research study which was conducted of the literature on learning from mass media and instructional television. The body of literature reviewed encompasses 17,500 citations from the Educational Resources Information Clearinghouse (ERIC) and 1,882 citations from Psychological Abstracts. Major research areas identified were: message design and cognitive processing; school achievement; family viewing context; attitudes, beliefs, behaviors; programming and utilization; and critical viewing skills. An analysis and interpretation was done for each area. In analyzing the study as a whole, the paper compares: (1) research-based conclusions with general misconceptions; (2) research areas with specific variables addressed throughout the research; (3) identified dominant research methodologies in the various research areas; and (4) the relationship of instructional technology practitioners to applications of the research on learning from television. (SWC)