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The two-step flow of communication model hypothesizes that ideas flow from mass media to opinion leaders, and from them to a wider population. It was first introduced by sociologist Paul Lazarsfeld et al. in 1944 [ 4 ] and elaborated by Elihu Katz and Lazarsfeld in 1955 [ 5 ] and subsequent publications. [ 6 ]
Opinion leadership comes from the theory of two-step flow of communication propounded by Paul Lazarsfeld and Elihu Katz. [1] Significant developers of the opinion leader concept have been Robert K. Merton, C. Wright Mills and Bernard Berelson. [2]
This theory accounts more for the social nature of sharing information than the one-step or two-step flow theories. [2] The two-step theory was popular when it was first introduced, but when it became difficult to actually measure opinion leaders' influence on the public's behavior and their opinions, the multi-step theory was developed.
Elihu Katz (Hebrew: אליהוא כ"ץ; 21 May 1926 – 31 December 2021) was an American-Israeli sociologist and communication scientist whose expertise was uses and gratifications theory. He authored over 20 books and 175 articles and book chapters during his lifetime and is acknowledged as one of "the founding fathers of regular television ...
Subsequent work in the social sciences employed a variety of methods to assess the media’s power to change attitudes and behaviors such as voting and violence. Sociologists Elihu Katz and Paul Lazarsfeld introduced the concept of a two-step flow in communication, which suggested that media influence was moderated by opinion leaders. [4]
Lazarsfeld introduced the idea of the two-step flow of communication [11] in 1944. Elihu Katz contributed to the model in 1955 through studies and publications. [12] The model of the two-step flow of communication assumes that ideas flow from the mass media to opinion leaders and then to the greater public.
By the 1950s, there were increased concerns about the power of the mass media, and with Elihu Katz, Lazarsfeld published Personal Influence, which propounded the theory of a two-step flow of communication, opinion leadership, and of community as filters for the mass media.
Uses and gratifications theory was developed from a number of prior communication theories and research conducted by fellow theorists. The theory has a heuristic value because it gives communication scholars a "perspective through which a number of ideas and theories about media choice, consumption, and even impact can be viewed". [11] [12] [13 ...