Framing Effects Research Articles

Concurrent perception of competing predictions: A "split-stimulus effect".

Visual illusions are systematic misperceptions that can help us glean the heuristics with which the brain constructs visual experience. In a recently discovered visual illusion (the "frame effect"), it has been shown that flashing a stimulus inside of a moving frame produces a large misperception of that stimulus's position. Across two experiments, we investigated a novel illusion (the "split stimulus effect") where the symmetrical motion of two overlaid frames produces two simultaneous positional misperceptions of a single stimulus. That is, one stimulus is presented but two are perceived. In both experiments, a single red dot was flashed when the moving frames reversed direction, and participants were asked to report how many dots they saw. Naïve participants sometimes reported seeing two dots when only one was presented, indicating spontaneous perception of the illusion. A Bayesian analysis of the population prevalence of this effect was conducted. The dependence of this effect on the frames' speed, the dot's opacity, spatial attention, as the presence/absence of pre-flash motion ("postdiction") was also investigated, and the features of this illusion were compared to similar motion position illusions within a predictive processing framework. In demonstrating this illusory "splitting" effect, this study is the first to show that it is possible to be simultaneously aware of two opposing perceptual predictions about a single object and provides evidence of the hyperpriors that limit and inform the structure of visual experience.

Positioning Strategies in B2B Marketing: The Regulatory Focus Orientation

ABSTRACT Purpose Relying on regulatory focus theory (RFT), this study examines the mechanisms that guide managers’ positioning-related decisions in business-to-business contexts. Specifically, this research answers two main questions: what motivates managers to recommend specific positioning strategies and what motivates related decisions regarding contextual and market conditions? Design/methodology/approach Two studies are undertaken in this research. Using the Delphi method, Study 1 adopted an online scenario-based experimental design related to the positioning decisions of three companies. A panel of expert informants assisted in the design process. Study 2 tested the stability of the results from Study 1 and then extended the analysis through the introduction of an additional dependent variable and market feedback. The results of the scenario-based online surveys are subjected to partial least squares structural equation analyses. Findings The findings are in line with regulatory focus theory and show that RFT can provide motivationally derived answers to questions regarding inter-manager differences in positioning decision-making under similar market and company conditions. The results further show that decisions made by marketing managers in B2B contexts are guided by a desire to achieve congruity (fit) between their regulatory focus and their positioning strategy. Moreover, there is a differential impact of the regulatory foci on the likelihood of changing a recommended strategy. Originality/value This paper investigates the moderating effects of involvement, valence framing, and market feedback. The study finds that the valence of the recommendation of a positioning strategy moderates the relationship between regulatory focus and the type of positioning strategy.

The Role of Audiovisuals in Counter-Framing Dynamics: A Longitudinal Experiment on Causal Responsibility Attribution

ABSTRACT Opposing the interpretation of a societal problem with a countering framing is a common characteristic of the democratic discourse. While studies on the dynamics of such counter-framing situations point largely toward recency effects, it remains mostly unclear which characteristics of the initial frame influence these recency effects. Taking current developments in news reporting into account—the trend toward audio and audiovisual news—this study suggests that news framed and presented in textual and audio and audiovisual modalities can attenuate recency effects in counter-framing environments. Building upon the long-standing research strand of responsibility framing and theories of multimodal learning, the findings of this longitudinal probability-sample experiment indicate that the recency effects of frames largely endure even if the initial frame is presented in a multi-modality mode.

Effects of Message Frames and Sources in TikTok Videos for Youth Vaping Cessation: Emotions and Perceived Message Effectiveness as Mediating Mechanisms

PurposeThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of message frames (gain vs. loss) and sources (formal expert: a health-care professional vs. informal expert: an individual who successfully quit vaping) on the persuasiveness of TikTok videos among youth who currently use e-cigarettes. Additionally, the study examined how emotional responses and perceived message effectiveness (PME) mediate the framing effect on youth intention to quit vaping. MethodsA 2 (gain frame vs. loss frame) × 2 (formal expert vs. informal expert) factorial design experiment was conducted with 378 youth aged 13 to 18 who currently use e-cigarettes. The study measured participant's emotional responses, PME of the messages, and intention to quit vaping after the video exposure. ResultsMessages from a formal expert resulted in stronger intention to quit vaping compared to messages from an informal expert. Gain-framed messages were associated with higher PME when delivered by an informal expert, whereas loss-framed messages showed stronger effects on PME from a formal expert. Positive emotional responses and increased PME mediated the relationship between gain-framed messages and youth intention to quit vaping. DiscussionTikTok could serve as an effective tool for formal experts to promote vaping cessation among youth who use e-cigarettes. Additionally, the findings suggest that gain frames may be more influential than loss frames in promoting vaping cessation among youth, by eliciting positive emotional responses from the audience. The differential impact of message frames depending on source type indicates a nuanced interaction between content and messenger.

Minimum or Living Wage? Framing Effects on Preferences and Expectations

ABSTRACTLiving wage campaigns are widely studied, yet less is known about how the frame differs from the minimum wage regarding public opinion and preferences. Such framing effects hold policy implications, as in 2016, UK Government changed the name of the regulatory wage floor to a living wage, concurrent with calls for welfare benefits cuts. This study explores how using the frame of ‘living’ rather than ‘minimum’ wage changes public socioeconomic expectations and preferences, and examines how a proposed wage increase, ranging from 50p to £6, comparatively influences public support for welfare spending. Methodologically, a sample from the United Kingdom's general population was recruited to participate in a series of online survey experiments. Treatment frames were randomly administered, followed by questions regarding the regulatory wage floor, and socioeconomic and redistributive preferences. Findings suggest introducing the term ‘living wage’ results in (1) higher expected real wages and unemployment effects; (2) raises the preferred wage floor for the United Kingdom and London; (3) greater desire for separate regional wage floors and (4) modest evidence suggesting that a living wage frame increases support for welfare spending. Interestingly, a proposed monetary wage floor increase had a null effect on welfare preferences when calling for a low or modest increase. However, a substantial proposed increase of over 50% led to a sharp reduction in support for benefits spending.

Deconstructing the frame effect.

The perception of an object's location is profoundly influenced by the surrounding dynamics. This is dramatically demonstrated by the frame effect, where a moving frame induces substantial shifts in the perceived location of objects that flash within it. In this study, we examined the elements contributing to the large magnitude of this effect. Across three experiments, we manipulated the number of probes, the dynamics of the frame, and the spatiotemporal relationships between probes and the frame. We found that the presence of multiple probes amplified the position shift, whereas the accumulation of the frame effect over repeated motion cycles was minimal. Notably, an oscillating frame generated more pronounced effects compared to a unidirectional moving frame. Furthermore, the spatiotemporal distance between the frame and the probe played pivotal roles, with larger shifts observed near the leading edge of the frame. Interestingly, although larger frames produced stronger position shifts, the maximum shift occurred almost at the same distance relative to the frame's center across all tested sizes. Our findings suggest that the number of probes, frame size, relative probe-frame distance, and frame dynamics collectively contribute to the magnitude of the position shift.

Enhancing appeal of aggregate payment framing: effects of temporal payment framing and goal proximity on consumer purchase decisions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how temporal payment framing (i.e. segregate vs aggregate framing) and goal proximity (i.e. proximal vs distal goals) influence consumer purchase decisions. Design/methodology/approach Study 1 included four laboratory experiments and examined the moderating role of goal proximity in temporal payment framing. Study 2, using Facebook and a firm’s website for an online field experiment with a data set of 38,731 impressions, extended Study 1, enhancing the generalizability of the findings. Findings Consumers exhibited a stronger purchase intention for segregate payment framing. This effect became less pronounced when goal proximity was coupled with temporal payment framing. If products or services emphasized a distal goal, individuals showed greater responses for aggregate payment framing rather than segregate payment framing. The effect was substantial, demonstrating a consistent behavioral pattern in individuals’ browsing choices, including browsing duration and the number of pages viewed. Research limitations/implications Future studies ought to investigate if the alignment of goal proximity and temporal payment framing holds consistent across different product types, such as utilitarian versus hedonic products, or search goods versus experience goods. Practical implications Marketers can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their marketing strategies by crafting persuasive messages where the monetary offer is in harmony with the goal proximity. Originality/value Temporal payment framing literature has focused on payment framing; however, consumers make their decisions based on a combination of factors rather than solely on payment framing. This study identifies the moderating role of goal proximity.

The Effects of Numerical Evidence and Message Framing in Communicating Vaccine Efficacy

To examine the effects of numerical evidence and message framing in communicating vaccine efficacy information about infectious diseases, an online experiment presented to U.S. adults different versions of a vaccination promotional message that vary by numerical vaccine efficacy evidence: (low efficacy rate: 60% vs. high efficacy rate: 95%), outcome framing (preventing disease-related infection vs. preventing disease-related severe illness), and gain vs. loss framing, using a factorial between-subjects design. While there was no significant interaction between numerical vaccine efficacy evidence and message framing, findings showed that a higher vaccine efficacy rate increased positive beliefs about vaccination and outcome framing emphasizing infection prevention increased message processing fluency. Given that infectious diseases pose higher risks for severe illness among older adults, follow-up analyses by age showed that only younger adults were sensitive to message framing where outcome framing emphasizing infection prevention increased processing fluency.

Kahneman's tryst with reasonableness: a tease unfulfilled?

Abstract Kahneman's criticism of neoclassical rationality was central to his research programme. He argued that rationality understood as temporal consistency among preferences and beliefs is inapt as a descriptive and prescriptive standard of decision-making. Descriptively, consistency ignores high decision costs and biases, such as framing effects. Prescriptively, it is problematic since it neglects the processual nature of choice and the crucial role of regret. Instead, Kahneman argued in favour of using reasonableness as a standard, though he did not fully develop the concept in his work.

Five guidelines to improve context-aware process selection: an Australian banking perspective

PurposeSelecting which processes to improve plays a critical role in the first phase of the business process management lifecycle, but it is a step with known pitfalls. Decision-makers rely on subjective criteria and their knowledge of the alternative processes put forward for selection is often inconsistent. This leads to poor quality decision-making and wastes resources. The purpose of this paper is to examine the proposition that decision-makers armed with context-enriched criteria make more logical, better-quality decisions. The context in question is qualitative, sensitive to decision-making bias and politically charged.Design/methodology/approachWe applied a design-science approach, engaging 70 industry decision-makers through a combination of research methods to assess how different contextual configurations, in a hypothetical scenario adapted from the Australian banking industry, influenced and ultimately improved the quality of the process selection step.FindingsThe study highlights the impact of framing effects on context, and the need to adapt framing to decision-maker behavior and provides five guidelines to improve process selection effectiveness.Originality/valueProcess selection research to date has largely focused on quantitative evaluation techniques, with little attention paid to the role of context and the behavioral interplay of decision-making styles in practice.

Effects of scenery frame on visual depth perception in classical Chinese gardens: A case study of the Lvyin Pavilion in Lingering Garden

Visual depth (distance) perception is a fundamental aspect of environmental cognition, as it allows people to judge the spatial scale of their surroundings. However, estimating the depth of classical Chinese gardens is challenging, especially from static viewpoints that frame the scenery. Previous studies have examined how the internal components of the scenery frame affect depth perception. Still, the role of the frame and its peripheral information as environmental background have been largely overlooked. This study investigates how depth perception at viewpoints is influenced by viewing position displacement, frame geometry, and environmental context. The authors created nine stimulus materials in a cave virtual reality environment (three image treatments × three positions). Seventy-one participants were asked to evaluate depth perception using the magnitude estimation and adjustment methods. Their eye movement behavior was also recorded using an eye-movement instrument (SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) eye-tracking glasses, 120 Hz). The results showed that participants could perceive spatial depth differences between viewing positions even when the internal viewpoint displacement was small; frame shape did not significantly affect depth perception and gaze behavior; and peripheral visual information of the frame enhanced depth perception significantly. Moreover, the form of the environmental background, especially the position of the scenery window, strongly guided the participants’ gaze. These findings suggest that ambient visual information significantly impacts environmental experience, which landscape designers should consider.

Variation in Valence Intensity Within Frames: Testing Predictions of Prospect Theory and Fuzzy‐Trace Theory

ABSTRACTRisk and decision‐making are central to human behavior and have been extensively studied across many disciplines. To better understand the factors that influence an individual's risk‐related choices, this paper investigates the influence of frame valence intensity. It does so by comparing predictions from two prominent theories of decision‐making: Prospect theory (PT) and fuzzy‐trace theory (FTT). PT relies on the numerical transformation of subjective value information suggesting that the intensity of the frame should not affect the decision outcome. In contrast, FTT predicts that the level of frame valence should correspond to the intensity of the extracted memory trace and have predictable effects on risky choice. The results demonstrate that risky choice varies across different levels of the frame's valence. For positive frames, increasing valence intensity is associated with decreased risk preference. For negative frames, the relationship is more complex and context‐dependent. These findings extend our understanding of framing effects, suggesting that both the direction and intensity of frame valence influence risk preferences. While broadly aligning with FTT predictions regarding gist extraction, our results also indicate that PT could be extended to account for valence intensity effects, potentially bridging these theoretical perspectives.

Analysis of the results of optical coherence tomography to assess the effectiveness and safety of implantable bioresorbable stenting frames in the long term

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of implantation of everolimus-coated bioabsorbable vascular scaffolds (BSCs) based on the results of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with coronary artery disease who have previously undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Materials and methods: OCT data from 23 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were studied 10 years or more after intervention with BVS implantation. Standard criteria based on OCT analysis were used to evaluate the efficacy of BVS. The stented segment, proximal zone before the stent, and distal zone after the stent were the areas of interest. Results: in the long-term period, the structure of the artery in the area of the installed biodegradable scaffolds is a combination of fragments of an atherosclerotic plaque, a resorbed scaffold, and neointima. When visualized using coherence tomography, this structure appears as a monolayer with high signal intensity. In 42.3% of patients, structures similar to fragments of the stenting frame were visualized, but smaller in size, with a disconnected structure, without clear contours and the absence of a typical shape. In 15.4% of cases, pronounced positive remodeling of the coronary artery in the area of the installation of the bioresorbable frame was noted. Conclusions: analysis of coherence tomography data showed that the use of biodegradable frames is effective and safe, the process of degradation of the frames occurs with an increase in diameter in the stented zone and the formation of a protective monolayer, while maintaining the patency of all side branches in the implantation zone.

Examining the effect of nudging on college students' behavioral engagement and willingness to participate in online courses.

Nudging is a subtle behavioral intervention that has been successful in various domains such as healthy eating and energy conservation, yet its application in mental health remains underexplored. This study examines the effect of nudging to increase engagement with online mental health resources in a university setting. We assigned 2539 first-year undergraduate and graduate students in China to either a nudging group, which received course information augmented with behavioral cues (including framing effects and social norms), or a control group, which received only basic course information. Outcomes measured included self-reported willingness to enroll, willingness to recommend enrollment, and actual enrollment actions. Results indicated that students in the nudging group demonstrated significantly higher engagement levels than those in the control group across all metrics. These findings suggest the potential of nudging strategies to effectively enhance college students' participation in online mental health education.

Effectiveness of Message Framing Interventions on Improving Health Outcomes for Individuals in Diabetes Health Education Communication: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo identify the effects of message‐framing interventions on improving health outcomes of individuals in diabetes health education communication.MethodsFour electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were the search engines used. The period of literature search was from their inception until December 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi‐experimental trials reporting the effects of message‐framing interventions for diabetes were included.ResultsThe review included 10 studies. Many studies have investigated multiple health outcomes. Of the seven studies that evaluated behavioral health‐related outcomes, all studies (7/7, 100%) found a positive effect, and four studies (4/7, 57.1%) found that there was no significant difference between gain and loss framing. Of the seven studies that assessed nonbehavioral health‐related outcomes, six studies (6/7, 85.7%) reported a positive postintervention effect, whereas four studies (4/7, 57.1%) found that loss‐framed messages were more effective. One study (1/7, 14.3%) reported that there was no effect of the message framing on mental health‐related outcomes.ConclusionsIn diabetes health education communication, message framing of gain and loss framing has a positive effect on health outcomes for individuals. The advantage of the loss framing is more significant in improving nonbehavioral health‐related outcomes.Practice ImplicationsWhen constructing a message to promote health outcomes for patients with diabetes, the message framing is worth applying, and the advantages of loss framing can be considered more.Trial RegistrationPROSPERO registration ID: CRD42023445074. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=445074

Poverty Porn as Humanitarian Business: The Effects of Framing, Affect Intensity, and Spokesperson Characteristics

Poverty Porn as Humanitarian Business: The Effects of Framing, Affect Intensity, and Spokesperson Characteristics

Figurative Narratives in Political Blogging: Linguocognitive Perspective

Introduction. Recent years have seen a significant shift towards the pervasive use of figurative narratives in mediated political communication. Narrative practices, previously analyzed exclusively within the framework of literary theory, have become a kind of «language games» of modern politicians in their communication with potential voters and opponents, debates and intricate negotiation processes. The article analyzes figurative narratives of the English- and German-speaking political blogs as a powerful linguistic-cognitive tool for mediated political communication. The purpose of the paper is deep semantic analysis of figurative narratives of political blogs, which, as the authors claim, is a promising direction of research due to the narrative nature of human reasoning. The paper argues that the skillful use of figurative narrative practices based on archetypical plots and cultural references makes it possible to manipulate the consciousness of the electorate to achieve political goals.Methodology and sources. Methodologically, the study is based on the cognitive-discursive approach to narrative analysis and the basic principles of the neural theory of language and metaphor.Results and discussion. Pointing to the manipulative effect of metaphorical framing in narrative, the authors attempt to present a holistic view of narrative as a tool for the formation of political views. The study is based on the premise that narrative employs the rich structure of human representations of events and actions, and the type of metaphor promoted in the narrative affects human understanding of events and the adoption of certain positions on an important public issue by readers of political blogs. The set of metaphors, politicians use, forms a special type of cultural narrative, which the authors interpret as an extended metaphorical narrative.Conclusion. Summarizing the effects of using metaphorically framed narratives in politics, the authors conclude that the narrative communication strategy in political blogging is a targeted impact on a communication partner by referring to various narrative plots; the modification or transformation of the potential and diversity of political narratives, as well as their effectiveness, speaks in favor of their use in domestic and foreign policy communication to contribute to a symmetrical communication space aimed at successful cooperation rather than confrontation.

The effect of goal frame and risk perception on digital flood prevention tool acceptability.

To cope with catastrophic floods, people need to be better prepared. In this context, a self-assessment digital tool for habitat vulnerability was developed. To improve its take-up rate, we are looking at the motivations associated with the social acceptability of this tool. The motivations (hedonic-gain-normative), derived from goal-frame theory, as well as elements relating to risk perception, are tested. One, 688 participants (aged between 18 and 87) first read a scenario presenting the application (reflecting either one of the motivations of the Goal Framing Theory or a control scenario with no motivation). After reading one of the scenarios, they completed an online questionnaire, measuring the acceptability of the tool using three measures: a direct one (items from the Technological Acceptability Model: ease of use, perceived usefulness and social influence), an indirect measure (by asking the percentage of neighbours interested in the tool) and a social measure (judgement of a person using the tool). The last part of the questionnaire was about subjects' risk perception. The analyses show that, of all the scenarios, the one involving hedonic motivation leads to the lowest social acceptance of the tool. We also observe that a better risk perception predicts better tool acceptability. Finally, we observe interaction effects between risk perception and motivations, showing that normative motivation is better when risk perception increases and that the control condition is better when risk perception decreases. Goal framing theory is usually used for ecological behaviors. It also appears here as relevant in the field of risk prevention. Although risk perception remains the best predictor of acceptability, these results lead us to conclude that hedonic motivation is not appropriate for the acceptability of a flood risk prevention tool. It is preferable to focus on normative and gain motivations.

Quotas or parity? How the framing of positive action measures impacts public support and backlash

ABSTRACT While gender quota and parity laws are increasingly popular worldwide, their introduction often causes controversy. Thus far, we lack an understanding of how the framing of these measures affects public opinion. We conducted a survey experiment in the UK and France (combined N = 2677) to identify the causal effect of framing on levels of support for the policy and potential backlash against women candidates. Comparing (1) gender quotas to increase women’s underrepresentation and (2) gender parity laws to achieve gender balance, we find that overall levels of support are greater than opposition in both countries. Parity is more supported than quotas in France, but no such framing effects emerge in the UK. Respondents’ gender also matters, with men less supportive of both measures than women. We find no evidence that either type of positive action measure increases backlash in the form of reduced support for hypothetical women candidates running under such measures.

Framing effects in non-GMO labels: an empirical study of the impact of non-GMO label frames on consumers' food preferences

PurposeFood labels are increasingly used to provide information to consumers. As a common design strategy used for food package labels globally, label frame is often used to expand the perceived breadth of a brand and create a broader brand image. We evaluated the effect of the presence or absence of a non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO) label frame on consumers' preferences for non-GMO foods.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected data from 120 MBA students at a university in Sichuan, China, and 126 foreign volunteers in a shopping mall in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The study investigates the effect of the presence or absence of non-GMO label frame (i.e. label with or without an outline) on non-GMO food preferences through a field survey and two controlled experiments. To empirically analyse the psychological mechanisms by which non-GMO label frames affect consumers' preferences for non-GMO food, we set up the mediating variable of food association of safety.FindingsFor ordinary consumers, a framed non-GMO label is more likely to evoke food association of safety and further enhance consumer preference for non-GMO foods. It facilitates consumers' choice of healthier foods. This finding did not otherwise vary across demographic characteristics.Originality/valueThis study is the first to examine the influence of non-GMO label frames on consumers' non-GMO food preferences, which is an innovative research question. The findings of this study are instructive for food manufacturers and policymakers to better design and use non-GMO label frames to attract more consumers to choose non-GMO foods.