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.