WHO SETS THE AGENDA? ANALYZING ATTENTION DYNAMICS OF ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND VIOLENT CRIME ISSUES IN CANADA AND AUSTRALIA OVER THE PERIOD OF 2008-2015

Abstract

The thesis puts the question, who sets the agenda of economic diversification and violent crime, in Canada and Australia? Among major actors, media exerts predominant influence, though the public has grown in influence with emergence of internet. Finally, academia and think tanks influence agenda-setting for often socially controversial issues and those with scientific uncertainty. This research analyzes Canada and Australia for economic diversification and violent crime over 2008-2015. This research should contribute to agenda-setting theory in the internet era by defining the most vital actor(s) based on dynamics in attention. The methodology includes: using think tanks’ web-sites to collect trends in the number of publications as a proxy for attention and conducting content analysis; use of Scopus and Web of Science to trace scholarly articles as a proxy of academic attention, and analyze content; use of Nexis Lexis and Google Search to trace media articles, with content analysis of articles; and use of Google search and www.blogsearchengine.org to trace comments of the public, and content analysis of comments to develop context-specific patterns. LEGIS info in Canada and Parliament of Australia Search Hansard in Australian context are employed to track policy-making activities, as measured through numbers of relevant bills and laws.