Parents shouldn't be so quick to turn off the television if their children are watching "Wheel of Fortune" or "Jeopardy" instead of doing their homework. Many TV game shows provide kids with information on geography, science and vocabulary, says Ohio University Professor of Journalism Anne Cooper-Chen.

Cooper-Chen's research also suggests that game shows may motivate kids to learn, increase self-esteem and sensitize children to social prejudices. The work is part of an ongoing project that started in the mid-1980s with a study of 260 game shows in 50 countries. That study was the basis for Cooper-Chen's book, Games in the Global Village: A 50-Nation Study of Entertainment Television, published by Bowling Green State University Popular Press in 1994.

Despite its growing popularity, the TV game show format remains an untapped educational resource, Cooper-Chen says. "Anyone with access to a television studio could create a game show," she says. "All you need is one camera, one host and a simple set. It takes a lot of organization, but that is also a learning opportunity."

The TV game show format doesn't require a television to succeed, Cooper-Chen notes. The format will work nicely in a classroom setting as well. "Kids can do their own quiz shows, devise questions and create their own sets," she says. "The friendly competition, entertainment value, and the replication of the TV experience are all valuable educational tools."

Cooper-Chen currently is working on a revision of her book, which was translated to Korean in December 1996.

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