Framing

                Hi Bloggers! Today I would like to discuss how framing a question can produce and answer.  Whether you are talking to a friend or asking a random person to take a survey, framing can be used to shape their answer.  In Psychology, framing is defined of how individuals rely on their schemas and stereotypes to understand and respond to events.  In other words, people build a series of mental filters through biological and cultural influences.  Framing plays a huge role on every part of your life and dictates decisions you do or do not make.

                Consider the following two questions. “Would you like to go out to dinner with me?” “What time and I picking you up for dinner?”  The first question is submissive and provides an easy way for the person being asked to answer either way.  Question two puts a slant on the question and makes the person more likely to go to dinner with you.  This is a classic example of framing.     

                Framing is seen in everyday life?  For starters look at your government.  They ask you questions as Americans with a planned answer of what you’re going to say.  Take a look at the recent political conventions.  Many times in Obama’s speech, he said it is your choice on what plan you want for our country.  He is giving you a choice but he isn’t at the same time.  He went on to discuss all of the positives of his side while pointing out the negatives on Romney’s side.  So when he asks you what choice would you choose for America, he is framing the question.  In Romney’s speech, he asked if you were better off today then you were 4 years ago.  This is a totally framed question.  If you look at what he said before the question.  He had trashed the last 4 years of what Obama did.  When he asks this question, he is going to get a slanted answer.  This is just one example of framing.

                How can you use framing to help you?  There are many ways for you to take advantage of questions and slant them.  It all depends on what you want.  Let’s say that you are trying to sell for your fundraiser.  There are a couple ways of asking them to buy.  The first way is the classic way: “Are you interested in buying anything?”  This way is very passive.  It allows for an easy no without any guilt or bad feelings.  The second way would be a framed question such as: “Would you please help our choir department (or other fundraising program)?”  This is very direct and uses the word help.  This puts a guilt factor on the people buying and makes them more likely to buy something from your fundraiser.  You turned a no into a yes with the wording of the question.

                Whether you are using framing for personal gain or just starting to notice in in society, understand that it plays a huge role in your life.  The framing of a question or the preface to a question often determines the answer.  The next time you want a raise in allowance or a date to homecoming, try framing it.

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