ABSTRACT
The former demand on the comprehensive theory may be called complete generalizability; the latter, complete inclusiveness. Neither demand will ever be fulfilled, of course. They represent ideals never to be reached. But ideals are good for one thing. A theory that is comprehensive with respect to the world of phenomena is invariant over time and space. It has a very high degree of generalizability. The locations of the different research traditions are of course approximate, and they are valid only at the level of a rough ordinal scale. In terms of a behavioral and social science at large, four main theoretical perspectives have been cultivated within the program: a developmental perspective, a social class perspective, a socialization perspective, and a lifestyle perspective. The basic methodological characteristic of the Media Panel Program is that it builds on a combined longitudinal and cross-sectional design.
