媒介效果之於大衆傳播研究，猶如戰爭與愛情之於小說，一直是長青的論題。「議題設定」研究是從個人社會學習的角度，探討在今日大衆媒介極為普及的社會，閱聽人日常生活中大量使用媒介，他們究竟學到些什麼？有什麼樣的後果？
「議題設定」認為大衆媒介與閱聽人之間是有直接關係，特別是在認知層面。閱聽人接觸媒介，不僅從媒介獲知消息，同時不知不覺地學習了媒介所強調的論題，把它視為個人重要的論題，或者成為日常人際交往談話的論題。
本研究的目的，在理論上是要釐清媒介可以使閱聽人的認知發生變化的假定。另方面就實際而言，以中美關係調整問題為例，試圖了解大衆媒介在此一問題上扮演什麼角色？
為了掌握媒介與閱聽人互動的關係，研究方法上同時採用抽樣調查和內容分析。抽樣調查是以輔仁大學的學生為對象，內容分析是以六十七年十二月十七日至六十八年三月十六日的聯合報為主。經資料處理統計，分別列出個人認為重要的論題和報紙報導的論題，然後以等第相關統計檢定兩者間的關係程度。
研究主要發現：在知曉層次上，「議題設定」的假設都獲得支持。在顯著性層次上，媒介強調愈重要的論題，人際談論也談得愈多；但是，媒介論題與個人論題相關，只有在三種情況下才出現，顯示媒介「議題設定」的效果並非毫無限制。此外，本研究調查訪問嘗試由受訪者自行主觀界定問題的方式來收集資料，結果說明此為可行的有效方式。
本論文得以完成，實賴於師長、同學及家人的協助與鼓勵。首先要特別感謝兩位指導教授—汪琪老師和陳世敏老師。
汪老師在研究過程中不厭其煩的指導，提供許多甫自美攜囘的參考資料，暗地資助部分電腦處理費用，令人感動。然而因筆者怠惰，致使汪老師先行赴美研究，未及參加最後的口試，實為最大遺憾。
陳老師從引發問題、理論架構到最後的文字修飾，一直以最大的耐心，質疑修正，使筆者受益匪淺。又特地資助論文打字費用，無任感激。除此，在啓迪思想，培養對傳播研究的信心上，陳老師更是一位人師。
此外，徐佳士老師潛移默化對問題探討的客觀持平態度；林邦傑老師幫助克服對數學生疏的心理障礙，教導統計學和應用電腦，均由衷感激。
本所漆所長和蘇福欣老師在行政上給予很多的幫助；郭俊良、張錦華、洪瓊娟、李文琦參與研究，提供很有價值的意見，特此致謝。
李賽齡、黃宗倫、胡致華、陳國柱等協助資料處理；還有許多學長和同窗好友的關心，均令人難以忘懷，謹此一併致謝。缺少以上任何一人的指點或協助，本文勢將無法完成。
最後，筆者得以完成學業實應歸功於雙親的含辛茹苦，始終堅持「教育是父母唯一能夠給予的財富」，提供心無旁騖的學習環境。還有大哥在美進修，忙碌中仍來信再三鼓勵；小弟很有修養地忍受大堆參考書和資料侵佔到他的房間，適時還享以吉他調劑心情。謹以本論文獻給敬愛的雙親和兄弟。
論文習作過程中備嘗甘苦，所學到的經驗比實際研究所獲得結果要豐富。筆者學有未逮，文中不免疏漏錯誤，尚祈師長及先進不吝指正。
郭陽道謹識於木柵
六十八年十二月

中文部份：
(1)于洪海：目前台北市主要日報新聞雷同程度及原因。新聞學研究，民六十二年，十一集，三三至八○頁。
(2)吳聰賢：態度量表的建立。見楊國樞等（編著）：社會及行為科學研究法，台北市，東華書局，民六十七年，四六三至四八六頁。
(3)林玉體：清晨為何不讀書。中國論壇，六十八年三月十五日，七卷十一期，第五頁。
(4)林清山：心理與教育統計學。台北市，東華書局，民六十六年修訂二版。
(5)徐佳士：大衆媒介不可做牧羊孩子。人與社會，民六十四年四月，三卷一期，第十九頁。
(6)徐佳士：中文報紙版面改革的研究。新聞學研究，民六十二年，十二集，十七至六六頁。
(7)徐佳士：大衆傳播理論，台北市，新聞記者公會，民六十二年再版。
(8)徐佳士、潘家慶、趙嬰：改進台灣地區大衆傳播之國家發展功能的研究。新聞學研究，民六十七年，二十一集，一至四二頁。
(9)徐正光、黃順二（翻譯）：調查分析的邏輯。台北市，黎明文化事業公司，民六十八年。
(10)張春興：今日青年的升學與就業問題。中國論壇，民六十八年三月，七卷十二期。
(11)郭為藩：自我心理學。台南市，開山書店，民六十四年再版。
(12)陳世敏：從方法學分析傳播效果研究。人與社會，民六十六年十二月，五卷五期，十九至二十一頁。
(13)陳世敏：被遺忘的資訊分配。綜合月刊，民六十七年九月號，七二頁至七五頁。
(14)楊國樞等（編著）：社會及行為科學研究方法。台北市，東華書局，民六十七年。
(15)楊國樞等：大學生在做些什麼。思與言，民六十二年，十卷五期及六期。
(16)楊孝濚：傳播研究方法總論。台北市，三民書局，民六十七年。
(17)楊孝濚：大專學生傳播行為，現代化與政治參預，幼獅月刊，民六十六年，四一卷四期。
(18)邱維城：青年心理與青年問題。見胡海國編譯，發展心理學，台北市，華新出版社，民六十五年，三二九至三三三頁。
(19)葉啓政：有關社會問題基本性質的初步檢討。見楊國樞等（編著），當前台灣社會問題，台北市，巨流圖書公司，民六十八年，三至二十八頁。
(20)賴國洲：大學生政治消息的傳播型態及其影響因素之研究。新聞學研究，民六十七年，二十二集，五一自一一四頁。
(21)閻心恒：大衆傳播學研究方法。台北市，新聞記者公會，民六十一年。
(22)綜合月刊編輯部：台北的新聞風波。綜合月刊，民六十七年十一月號，十七至十九頁。

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