Design

A 2 (general frame: gain, loss) x 2 (payoff level: high, low) within-subjects design was implemented. All subjects experienced all levels of each independent variable (general frame and payoff level). The gain-framed questions involved scenarios in which either choice selected by the subject would result in an acquisition. Likewise, choices selected for the loss-frame scenarios incurred a loss. The high-payoff questions included scenarios about Psychology 331 grading techniques, studying habits, a worldwide flu epidemic, and Hurricane Katrina funds, which were chosen specifically because of their importance to Psychology 331 students. Low-payoff questions, on the other hand, involved scenarios with a hungry duck, a Martian mining program, Superman, and Spiderman. These questions were devised to offer relatively smaller consequences. The dependent variable was the percentage of total sure-option responses for the gain-framed and loss-framed questions as well as for the low-payoff and high-payoff questions.