Why does framing influence judgement? (2003)
Authors
Abstract
This editorial presents the influence that framing has on judgement. Treatment framing itself is not the largest problem we face. Because our schools do not teach children complex uses of mathematics and statistics, understanding the uncertainties and risks of innumeracy presents the largest problem in health care treatment framing, judgement, and decision making. The use of conditional probabilities, single-event probabilities and relative risk reduction tends to mislead patients into overestimating the benefits of therapies and consequently increases their willingness to consent. So instead of these frames, physicians should be taught to use frames that foster insight: frequency statements, natural frequencies and absolute risks. Thus, understanding when and why framing has an effect is essential for informed consent and shared decision making as life and death can depend on how information is framed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Bibliographic entry
Gigerenzer, G. (2003). Why does framing influence judgement? Journal of General Internal Medicine, 18, 960-961. (Full text)