{"id":16076,"date":"2023-08-30T23:36:42","date_gmt":"2023-08-30T23:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/?p=16076"},"modified":"2024-01-03T21:29:03","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T21:29:03","slug":"framing-bias-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/framing-bias-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Framing Bias Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/framing-bias-examples-and-definition-1024x724.jpg\" alt=\"framing bias examples and definition, explained below\" class=\"wp-image-32618\" srcset=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/framing-bias-examples-and-definition-1024x724.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/framing-bias-examples-and-definition-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/framing-bias-examples-and-definition-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/framing-bias-examples-and-definition.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"featurebox\"><strong>The framing bias is when a person\u2019s decision or choice among options is influenced by the way information is presented.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you were to sell a car for \u201c$2999 \u2013 which is 50% off!\u201d or \u201c$2999 full price\u201d, the people who thought it was 50% off may feel better about the purchase, even though the discount is fake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tversky and Kahneman (1981) are the most prolific researchers on framing effects, as well as many other cognitive biases such as the related concept of <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/negativity-bias-examples\/\">negativity bias<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a series of studies, they were able to alter the decisions of participants based on presenting the same information differently, often by just changing one or two words in a sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their research demonstrated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201c\u2026systematic reversals of preference based on variations in the framing of acts, contingencies, or outcomes\u201d<\/em> (p. 453).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, the effects were far from trivial:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201c[The effects of framing bias] occur when the outcomes concern the loss of human lives as well as in choices about money; they are not restricted to hypothetical questions and are not eliminated by monetary incentives\u201d<\/em> (p.&nbsp; 457).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Framing Bias Examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coach Kelly tells his team they are down 3 touchdowns\u2026now the team feels hopeless; Coach Miller tells his team to just focus on getting one touchdown\u2026the other 2 will come later. The team feels motivated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choosing a particular brand of fruit juice because it is made from 10% real fruit, not realizing that means it is made from 90% water and chemicals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using a soft and soothing tone of voice compared to a harsh and aggressive tone is an example of auditory framing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A restaurant takes close-up photos of its meals to make the portions appear larger; an example of visual framing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Buying a package of ground beef that is labeled as 75% lean but passing on a package labeled as 25% fat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mrs. Williams conducts performance feedback to her staff and uses the term \u201careas of improvement\u201d instead of \u201cdeficiencies\u201d to identify what they need to work on &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Setting your best friend up on a date and describing him as having \u201chigh standards\u201d, while describing a similar friend you don\u2019t like as \u201cpicky and difficult\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People will prefer a medical treatment described as 90% effective over one that is described as having a 10% mortality rate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seeing the glass as half-full or half-empty is an example of framing that can affect a person\u2019s entire outlook on life<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Negotiating a plea deal by telling a defendant they could spend the next 10 years of their life in jail, or be out on parole in 3 years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Detailed Examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Skydiving: Adventurous or Risky?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"featurebox\"><strong>The framing bias can take the form of altering just a single adjective. It may be hard to believe, but using a particular word can affect how an entire message is processed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take skydiving for example.Objectively speaking, the odds of having a severe accident are the same no matter how the activity is described. However, using the word \u201cadventurous\u201d puts a positive spin on it and makes it sound thrilling and fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using the word \u201crisky\u201d puts a negative spin on that very same activity. Instead of making it sound thrilling, now it sounds dangerous and maybe even deadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One word changes the way the whole activity is perceived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Note: Framing Bias has a very similar premise as the <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/base-rate-fallacy-examples\/\">base rate fallacy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The Process Approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"featurebox\"><strong>People in leadership positions often make use of the framing bias. The way a project is described can affect the mindset of staff and lead to completely different project outcomes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, one leader may see her team struggling with the heavy demands of a challenging project. They are only a third of the way through, and already there are signs of frustration and burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, she decides to take a cue from framing research and create a context that instills hope. At her team\u2019s next meeting, she explains that the initial stages were the toughest and that they have now gotten through the roughest 3 innings of a 9-inning game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s still work to do, but the hardest part has passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By referring to the team\u2019s struggles as in the past, she is resetting their mindset. By using a baseball analogy, she has created the feeling that there is light at the end of the tunnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Discounts and Big Numbers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"featurebox\"><strong>Framing may be applied in marketing and advertising more than in any other profession. Ad campaigns routinely utilize framing tricks to manipulate consumers to perceive products\/services in specific ways.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s just one example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ad #1:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Receive 1 dollar off a $10 item if you buy now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ad #2:<\/strong><br>Receive 10% off a $10 item if you buy now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Which of those two ads is going to generate the most sales? The correct answer is ad #2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The number 10 is bigger than the number 1 (yes, that is obvious). But the framing bias will make most consumers become more excited about getting 10% off because it just \u201cseems like\u201d a better deal than just $1 off. (For similar marketing tactics, see <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/anchoring-bias-examples\/\">our article on the anchoring bias<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Earnings Per Share<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"featurebox\"><strong>When a large corporation presents their quarterly earnings to investors, you can bet they make use of the framing bias.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal is to make the results sound as positive as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s an example of two possible ways to present results:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Option 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Q3 earnings per share (EPS) were $1.25, compared to predicted earnings of $1.30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Option 2:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Q3 earnings per share (EPS) were $1.25, outperforming Q2 earnings of $1.22<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Option number one sounds disappointing. Earnings were below predictions and make it sound like the company is struggling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Option number two however, uses the term \u201coutperforming\u201d and uses a baseline number that makes the company look like it is in an upward trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Expanding Healthcare versus Raising Taxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"featurebox\"><strong>Politics has never been a sport for the faint of heart. At times it can be as ruthless as the gladiators of ancient Rome. Well, maybe not quite like that, but it\u2019s a tough arena nonetheless.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When votes are on the line and political ideologies at play, politicians will make full use of framing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the party that is in favor of expanding healthcare downward for lower-income segments of the population, their campaigns will talk about saving lives and helping children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the other party that is against that agenda, they will speak about the need to raise taxes and taking money out of the pockets of everyday citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people consider themselves to be intelligent and rational, capable of making decisions based on an objective analysis of the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to research by psychologists and cognitive scientists, that may not be entirely true. Just the simple switching of one adjective can have profound effects on people\u2019s judgments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Describing an event as either adventurous or risky can make it sound thrilling or life-threatening. An employee being told by a supervisor they have areas of improvement can be motivating. While at the same time, being told of deficiencies can be depressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The framing bias is powerful, yet most people are unaware of its influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Finkenauer, C., &amp; Vohs, K. D., (2001). Bad is stronger than good. <em>Review of General Psychology, 5<\/em>(4), 323\u2013370.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tversky, A., &amp; Kahneman, D. (1981). <a href=\"https:\/\/psych.hanover.edu\/classes\/Cognition\/Papers\/tversky81.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The framing of decisions and the psychology of choice<\/a>.&nbsp;<em>Science<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>211<\/em>(4481), 453-458.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Berat\u0161ov\u00e1, A., Krchov\u00e1, K., Ga\u017eov\u00e1, N., &amp; Jir\u00e1sek, M. (2016). Framing and bias: A literature review of recent findings. <em>Central European Journal of Management, 3<\/em>(2), 23-32. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5817\/CEJM2016-2-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5817\/CEJM2016-2-2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Janiszewski, C., Silk, T., &amp; Cooke, Alan D. J. (2003). Different scales for different frames: The role of subjective scales and experience in explaining attribute-framing effects. <em>Journal of Consumer Research, 30<\/em>(3), 311\u2013325.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The framing bias is when a person\u2019s decision or choice among options is influenced by the way information is presented. For example, if you were to sell a car for \u201c$2999 \u2013 which is 50% off!\u201d or \u201c$2999 full price\u201d, the people who thought it was 50% off may feel better about the purchase, even [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-psychology"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Dave Cornell (PhD)","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"authorship-box-avatar":false,"authorship-box-related":false,"authorship-post-flat":false,"authorship-post-cards":false,"authorship-post-thumbs":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Dave Cornell (PhD)","author_link":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/author\/dave-cornell-phd\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The framing bias is when a person\u2019s decision or choice among options is influenced by the way information is presented. For example, if you were to sell a car for \u201c$2999 \u2013 which is 50% off!\u201d or \u201c$2999 full price\u201d, the people who thought it was 50% off may feel better about the purchase, even&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16076"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16076\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32619,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16076\/revisions\/32619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}