Framing effects and the reinforcement heuristic

- We examine the effect of win/loss framing on a reinforcement heuristic.
- The experiment used an incentivized probability-updating task.
- A loss frame strengthens the basic impulse to shift away after losing.
- The effect occurs only if the losing option was chosen freely.

We examine the effect of win/loss framing on individuals' use of a reinforcement heuristic in an incentivized probability-updating task. A loss frame strengthens the basic impulse to shift away from an unsuccessful option, but only if this option was chosen freely before.