Final answer:
The framing effect occurs when question wording or background information leads to biased interpretations and responses. Awareness and pre-existing knowledge about a subject can help individuals recognize and reduce these biases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The framing effect is a cognitive bias where the way information is presented (framing) influences decision-making and judgment. When a question is worded in a certain way or when our background information primes us toward a particular viewpoint, our interpretation and response can be significantly affected. For instance, the inclusion of a negative context in a question about presidential approval can lead to more critical responses due to priming. Conversely, neutral wording encourages unbiased responses. Additionally, individuals' responses are influenced by their backgrounds, including their socio-economic status, race, and more, which can result in answer variations based on who is asking the question or the terms used in the question. For example, using the term "global warming" versus "climate change" can elicit different responses from people due to the connotations each phrase holds. This highlights how specific word choices can activate different associations in people's minds, leading to framing effects. Respondents can recognize and mitigate these biases by being aware of them and relying on their prior knowledge and beliefs about a subject.