Question

Which line of research has generally demonstrated that the mass media don't tell people what to think as much as they tell people what to think about?group of answer choices

O cultivation effect
O agenda-setting
O spiral of silence
O audience studies
O social learning theory

Answer 1

The agenda-setting theory explains how media directs public attention to specific issues, shaping the public agenda without directly influencing opinions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The agenda-setting theory:

The research demonstrating that mass media influence what topics the public thinks about, rather than what to think, is best described by the agenda-setting theory. Agenda-setting posits that media doesn't directly tell people what opinions to have but rather emphasizes which issues should be at the forefront of public discourse by selective coverage.

An example is how media coverage of crime rates can affect the public's perception of crime as an issue, even if the actual statistics don't support the heightened sense of risk. The media's selection and emphasis on certain issues shape what people perceive as important and what they talk and think about. This theory has been supported by studies that show how media coverage can significantly impact the public's agenda and influence their thoughts and actions.