Me Among Us: Affective Framing in Data Donation

Abstract

This study investigates how different framing approaches influence the affective aspects of data donation decision-making. Although framing effects are well studied in charitable giving, how affective framing shapes data donation, especially through data visualization, remains poorly understood. Using a theoretical framework based on the functions of affect in decision-making, we examine how three distinct framing approaches, an individual-donor lens (Group A), an individual-collective lens (Group B), and a collective-institutional lens (Group C), shape participants' affective experiences and subsequent donation decisions. Through a real-world data donation study (N=24), we found that framing designs substantially influenced donation outcomes, with the individual-collective lens generating the most favorable responses. Our analysis illustrates how affect can functions as information, motivation, and as a spotlight during the decision-making process, providing insights for designing more informed data donation interfaces and communications. This research contributes to understanding the complex interplay between framing designs, affective responses, and decision outcomes in data donation contexts.