Influencing weight bias: The impact of biased questionnaire anchors on stereotype beliefs and judgments.
OBJECTIVE
In this investigation, biased questionnaire response anchors were designed to indirectly manipulate respondents' estimates of their peers' stereotypic beliefs or the estimates of scientific research findings about individuals with obesity. The current study tested the hypothesis that biased response anchors could influence personal beliefs about obesity.


METHODS
Two-hundred adults participated in the study. A simple manipulation of questionnaire items (i.e., asking respondents to estimate peers' beliefs or scientific research findings) using biased response scale anchors was designed to subtly relay information about certain personality traits of individuals with obesity.


RESULTS
The anchor manipulation significantly influenced participants' immediate and follow-up weight biased beliefs as well as participants' evaluation of an obese job applicant's potential for employment.


CONCLUSIONS
Social judgments about obese individuals may be susceptible to subtle manipulation of response anchors and may be impacted by the source of comparison information (e.g., peers; scientific research).
East Carolina University, United States. Electronic address: carelsr14@ecu.edu.
R A
RA
Carels
East Carolina University, United States.
J
J
Rossi
Bowling Green State University, United States.
M
M
Taylor
Bowling Green State University, United States.
J
J
Borushok
University of Findlay, United States.
A
A
Kiefner-Burmeister
Bowling Green State University, United States.
N
N
Cross
Bowling Green State University, United States.
N
N
Hinman
Bowling Green State University, United States.
J M
JM
Burmeister
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D015982:Bias; D001835:Body Weight; D003142:Communication; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight; D000067074:Peer Influence; D010551:Personality; D011287:Prejudice; D012106:Research; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Anchor effect; Cognitive aspects of survey methodology; Social consensus; Source credibility; Weight bias