“Forming Public Opinion†and “Agenda-Setting†Concepts Where Do They Cross, Where Do They Separate?

This descriptive study as partof qualitative methods explains the relationships between the terms “forming public opinion†and “agenda setting†. Since these two terms areperceived verysimilar in Turkish, in terms of their similarities and differences that is the most asked questions for the agenda setting scholars in Turkey. The relationship between these two similar terms is knotted on the functions and effects of the media. Agenda-setting approach in the studies of the media effects deals with the first level of the media effects, which is the cognitive level. On the other hand, the studies on public opinion change mostly focuses on the second (emotional) or third (behavioral) levels of the media effects. Therefore, agenda setting studies explain the first level of the public opinion change process, but not the whole process. The media arepowerful tools for the agenda setting process, and they are one of the important devices in the process of public opinion change, but they are not the only instruments which explain the public opinion change in every condition. The study is important for correcting the confusion and misunderstanding of the meanings of these two terms in Turkish literature.