In recent years, several trends have emerged in political communication research. Studies have begun to show connections between the various components of the communication process and effects on audiences oe effects from message content. Macro-level studies have become more popular and comparative studies have emerged that examine differences in media effect from political communications in various nations or communities or periods in history. Other trends include a growing interest in the language used in media content and its interpretation by audiences, and an increase in studies that use a combination of methodologies and scholars have developed increasingly sophisticated models to explain the processes of political communication.