A LONGITUDINAL TIME SERIES ANALYSIS OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS ISSUE,
1989-1996: THE AGENDAS OF THE PRESIDENT, THE MEDIA, AND THE
PUBLIC
A LONGITUDINAL TIME SERIES ANALYSIS OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS ISSUE,
1989-1996: THE AGENDAS OF THE PRESIDENT, THE MEDIA, AND THE
PUBLIC
ABSTRACT
This study examines the relationship among the agendas of the president, the mass media,
and the public regarding the foreign policy issue in the United States from January 1989
to December 1996. ARIMA time-series analysis is used in an attempt to assess which
factors drive measured public opinion regarding foreign policy. Most important problem
survey results from various polling organizations are aggregated into a series of 96
monthly time points to measure the public agenda. The media agenda is developed from
a content analysis of the foreign policy issue in the evening news broadcasts of the three