 CTW enlisted Palmer , in conjunction with Harvard University , in 1979 to conduct a study in Jamaica regarding the effects of Sesame Street on children with no exposure to other children 's television programs , in order to correct for the effects of multimedia exposure on children in the US . Palmer discovered that Jamaican children 's interest dropped during segments with the Muppets , possibly due to language and cultural differences ; musical segments were the most effective . The children 's learning increased after exposure to the show , especially letter and number recognition . 
