Research into the correlation between television viewing practices and academic achievement has long been a major concern of educators. This study established that a negative correlation coefficient existed between the number of television viewing hours per day and SRA Achievement Test scores of selected fourth and seventh grade students in one Southwest Louisiana Parish. The general hypothesis tested was that an increased number of television viewing hours resulted in decreased achievement test scores in all components of the SRA Achievement battery. The control group to be tested consisted of 457 fourth grade students and 445 seventh grade students in one parish school system. After the necessary authorizations were obtained from parents and school authorities, the investigator conducted the surveys of two viewing days per week for four weeks. Each subject marked the appropriate item (program v i e wed). Number of hours viewed and SRA Achievement Test data were then correlated by computer, and a coefficient was established by using Pearson's Product Moment procedure. A negative correlation indicated that there was an inverse relationship between the number of television hours viewed and scores on the SRA Achievement Tests. The correlation was statistically significant at the 0.01 level of confidence. In the group surveyed, SRA scores decreased when number of hours of television viewing increased. Because of the demonstrated correlation at the 0.01 level of confidence in the control group, the investigator recommends that further study be conducted which would include use of more variables (socio-economic background, race, reading level, sex) so that data can be used more effectively in academic counseling. The length of the data collection period should be extended to allow for varying academic maturation rates of the subjects. Finally, a comparative study among parishes would provide more data in order to establish a paradigm for both gathering such data and for evaluating its effect on the educational process. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]