An Empirical Test of the Contingency Model for the Explanation of Heuristic-Based Framing-Effects

A two-stage model for explaining heuristic-based framing-effects is presented and empirically tested. This type of framing-effects is the result of heuristic cues provided by the framing-conditions and the actors insufficient elaborated information processing strategies. In the first stage of the model, the determinants of the information processing mode, and in step two, the decision behavior is predicted. The 'Asian Disease Problem' is utilized to empirically examine the models' combined predictions about the determinants of framing-effects. In agreement with these expectations, the strength of wording-effects can be explained through the interaction between the subjects' extrinsic and intrinsic motivation on the one hand and their cognitive abilities on the other hand. Whereas the introduction of expected-value differences and an increase in the attributed importance of the decision problem significantly reduces the wording-effects for subjects with high cognitive abilities, this proves to be either irrelevant or even leads to stronger framing-effects in the complementary group.