A Meta-Analysis of News Media’s Public Agenda-Setting Effects, 1972-2015

Abstract

This study used rigorous meta-analytic approaches to analyze empirical agenda-setting studies published from 1972 to 2015, and 67 studies that met the inclusion criteria for analysis produced a moderate grand mean effect size of 0.487. A multiple regression analysis revealed one most notable predictor that classified the basis for the study correlation as either content categories or survey participants. A multiple regression of a subgroup using content categories produced homogeneity. The mean effect size for these studies was 0.51. This is an indication of consistency in findings across agenda-setting studies and the presence of strong news media’s public agenda-setting effects.

Understand corporate social responsibility from an agenda setting perspective: a cross-national analysis of newspaper using computer-assisted content analysis

“…In addition, Wu and Coleman (2009) proposed the “hierarchy of effects theory,” suggesting that the second-level agenda (attribute) has more effects on influencing the public agenda than the first-level agenda (issue). However, Luo et al (2019) used a meta-analysis of agenda-setting and suggested that both the first-level and second-level agenda setting were equally powerful in influencing the public perception of the issues and their attributes. An increasing number of empirical studies have incorporated agenda-setting theory across a variety of media, including newspapers (Tam, 2015), online media (Roberts et al , 2002) and social media (Vogler and Eisenegger, 2020).…”

“…An increasing number of empirical studies have incorporated agenda-setting theory across a variety of media, including newspapers (Tam, 2015), online media (Roberts et al , 2002) and social media (Vogler and Eisenegger, 2020). Compared to other types of media, newspapers have stronger agenda-setting effects on shaping public perceptions (Luo et al , 2019).…”

“…Yet, less is known about how newspapers follow the societal trends to portray the social realities of CSR to the public. Under media proliferation and audience segmentation, newspapers were still as powerful as other news media in agenda setting (Luo et al , 2019) and even more effective than social media in setting the public agenda in CSR issues (Vogler and Eisenegger, 2020). The globalization of CSR has contributed to the multifacetedness of its definition (Chapple and Moon, 2005; Matten et al , 2004).…”

Who Can I Trust in a Scary World? An Examination of the Objects of Trust, Information Sources and Social Distancing Intention Amid COVID-19

“…For instance, Valkenburg, Peter, and Walther [ 37 ] concluded that meta-analyses typically report small to moderate media effects under r = 0.20. Luo, Burley, Moe, and Sui [ 42 ] analyzed 43 years of agenda-setting studies and found a moderate mean effect size of 0.487. Such limited effects suggest that media use or attention should probably be viewed and tested as a potential moderator instead of a direct, independent variable.…”

Pluralism of News and Social Plurality in the Colombian Local Media

“…The importance of the agenda-setting theory has not waned. Recent studies show how the relevance that the media give to an issue determines the audience's attention [18] and its perception even in international affairs in the current multiplatform and multimedia media context. However, it is always necessary to consider the audience's awareness of media's power [19].…”