We Are Evaluating a Method of Therapy for Extremely Underweight

question 56

Multiple Choice

We are evaluating a method of therapy for extremely underweight adolescent girls. If we weighed our subjects at the beginning and end of therapy, a difference in weight could mean

• A) that our therapy worked.
• B) that people gain weight over time regardless of what we do.
• C) that our scales changed due to repeated use.
• D) all of the above

---

Definitions:

Framing Effect

A cognitive bias where people react differently to a particular choice or decision depending on how it is presented to them.

Overconfidence

The condition of being excessively confident or assured in one’s ability, correctness, or reliability, often without sufficient reason.

Framing Effect

A cognitive bias where people react differently to a choice depending on how it is presented, or "framed," especially as a loss or gain.

Belief Perseverance

The psychological phenomenon where individuals maintain their convictions even when confronted with contrary evidence, showcasing the difficulty of changing deeply held beliefs.