This study investigated the influence of television viewing frequency on the performance in vocabulary development of SS 3 students in Cross River State, Nigeria. Data were obtained through questionnaires and a vocabulary test administered to 993 students in selected public and private schools in Cross River State. Data analyses indicated that high frequency television viewers performed significantly better than moderate viewers, while moderate viewers performed significantly better than did the low frequency viewers in vocabulary development.

KEY WORDS: television viewing, vocabulary development, achievement