Final answer:
To reduce potential personality differences between children exposed to violent and nonviolent scenes in a study, researchers should use random assignment. This method ensures that any observed differences in aggression are more likely due to the exposure itself and not pre-existing personality traits. The broader research indicates both a possible link between media violence and aggression, and the importance of accounting for other influencing factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
To assess the effect of televised violence on aggression and to reduce the chance that children in one group have more aggressive personalities than those in the other group, researchers should employ random assignment. This technique ensures that each child has an equal chance of being placed in either the violent or nonviolent scene group, thereby evenly distributing personality differences across both groups. By doing so, researchers can increase the likelihood that any differences in aggression levels observed after exposure to the media content are due to the nature of the content itself, rather than pre-existing personality traits.
It is pertinent to note the broader research context; studies such as those by Anderson & Bushman (2001) and Krahe et al. (2011) have found a correlation between exposure to violent media and increased aggression in children. However, there are also caveats highlighted by other researchers like Ferguson (2011), who suggest that while there may be a link between media violence and aggression, other factors such as mental health and family background also play a significant role.
Thus, while designing the study, researchers need to ensure that the methodology, including random assignment, is robust enough to account for both the potential effects of violent media and the myriad of other variables that might influence aggressive behavior in children.