Effect of framing on the perception of genetic recurrence risks

Abstract

Individuals asked to evaluate genetic recurrence risks were found to be influenced bythe way the risks were framed Presenting a single risk figure resulted in overweightingof low probabilities and underweighting of high probabilities, as compared to presentinga list of sequential risks. Differences werealso found between meanings attached to verbal expressions of risks when translating from verbal to numerical expressions, and vice versa. The implications of these findings for genetic counseling are discussed.