Addressing Framing Bias

When using news sources to gather information in support of a decision, beware Framing Bias, a.k.a. Framing Effect.

Framing Bias relates to the fact that teams and individuals can look at the same data and draw different inferences and conclusions. Editorial boards use this fact to present slanted views that aren’t necessarily false by may not present the complete picture as well.

Consider the data in these images:

Now consider the following headlines:

➤ Headline 1: China increases coal consumption 3.5x since 1990 in defiance of climate goals
➤ Headline 2: Coal’s grip on global GDP decreases by 66% since 1990

Each of these headlines clearly tell two different stories, one of the rising consumption of the dirtiest of fossil fuels by a single player on the global stage and one of the declining importance of coal in the world economy. Both of these stories can be told using the same set of data. Each has framed the story of the data in a very different way, however. They’ve taken their own slant.

So, what is a decision-maker to do? When analyzing the present context for a strategic decision, how does a leadership team faced with a strategic decision deal with the fact that Framing Bias exists. How do they know what information they can trust and what is telling a true but incomplete story?

1️⃣ RECOGNIZE that cognitive biases like Framing Bias and others exist, are completely natural, and can affect anyone. The key is not to try to eradicate them but to be vigilant for when they arise.

2️⃣ IDENTIFY the frame that is present in the information under review. By naming it (anti-China, pro-green energy), you reduce its influence.

3️⃣ FOCUS on the data so that decisions are based on hard data and not on how that data is presented by others.

4️⃣ REFRAME it differently. Consider how someone could take the same information and present it in a different light to gain a more balanced view.

5️⃣ THINK critically about the data or information available, questioning assumptions at every level.

Enterprises faced with making decisions necessary to fight climate change via the transition to carbon-free energy are inundated with information framed to support the speaker’s agenda. At Tilt Global we empower leadership teams with the capacity to recognize Framing Bias and other impediments to good decision-making.