Choosing the right frame: how context preferences facilitate subsequent decisions

Abstract Context shapes how we perceive choices and, therefore, how we decide between them. For instance, a large body of literature on the “framing effect” demonstrates that people become more risk-seeking when choices are framed in terms of losses. Despite this research, it remains unknown how peo...

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Main Authors: Lauren S. Treiman, Wouter Kool
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79510-z
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author Lauren S. Treiman
Wouter Kool
author_facet Lauren S. Treiman
Wouter Kool
author_sort Lauren S. Treiman
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Context shapes how we perceive choices and, therefore, how we decide between them. For instance, a large body of literature on the “framing effect” demonstrates that people become more risk-seeking when choices are framed in terms of losses. Despite this research, it remains unknown how people make choices between contexts and how these choices affect subsequent decision making. To address these questions, we designed the Frame Selection Task (FST). On each trial in the FST, participants first choose how risky and safe options are framed, either in terms of gains or losses, and then select between them. We found that participants exhibited frame preferences, with a predominant preference for the gain frame, and that they were willing to incur costs to select options within their preferred frame. Moreover, participants selected frames that aligned with their risk preferences: people with stronger risk aversion displayed a stronger gain-frame preference. These results demonstrate how people choose between contexts and that they can combine these preferences with cognitive biases to facilitate decision making.
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spelling doaj-art-5d7c0d4c2fa0412c9bac777a267f85822025-01-05T12:24:55ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111710.1038/s41598-024-79510-zChoosing the right frame: how context preferences facilitate subsequent decisionsLauren S. Treiman0Wouter Kool1Division of Computational & Data Sciences, Washington University in St. LouisDivision of Computational & Data Sciences, Washington University in St. LouisAbstract Context shapes how we perceive choices and, therefore, how we decide between them. For instance, a large body of literature on the “framing effect” demonstrates that people become more risk-seeking when choices are framed in terms of losses. Despite this research, it remains unknown how people make choices between contexts and how these choices affect subsequent decision making. To address these questions, we designed the Frame Selection Task (FST). On each trial in the FST, participants first choose how risky and safe options are framed, either in terms of gains or losses, and then select between them. We found that participants exhibited frame preferences, with a predominant preference for the gain frame, and that they were willing to incur costs to select options within their preferred frame. Moreover, participants selected frames that aligned with their risk preferences: people with stronger risk aversion displayed a stronger gain-frame preference. These results demonstrate how people choose between contexts and that they can combine these preferences with cognitive biases to facilitate decision making.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79510-z
spellingShingle Lauren S. Treiman
Wouter Kool
Choosing the right frame: how context preferences facilitate subsequent decisions
Scientific Reports
title Choosing the right frame: how context preferences facilitate subsequent decisions
title_full Choosing the right frame: how context preferences facilitate subsequent decisions
title_fullStr Choosing the right frame: how context preferences facilitate subsequent decisions
title_full_unstemmed Choosing the right frame: how context preferences facilitate subsequent decisions
title_short Choosing the right frame: how context preferences facilitate subsequent decisions
title_sort choosing the right frame how context preferences facilitate subsequent decisions
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79510-z
work_keys_str_mv AT laurenstreiman choosingtherightframehowcontextpreferencesfacilitatesubsequentdecisions
AT wouterkool choosingtherightframehowcontextpreferencesfacilitatesubsequentdecisions