@article{10674,
  author = {Magne J{\o}rgensen and Torleif Halkjelsvik},
  title = {The Effects of Request Formats on Judgment-Based Effort Estimation},
  abstract = {In this paper we study the effects of a change from the traditional request {\textquotedblleft}How much effort is required to complete X?{\textquotedblright} to the alternative {\textquotedblleft}How much can be completed in Y work-hours?{\textquotedblright}. Studies 1 and 2 report that software professionals receiving the alternative format provided much lower, and presumably more optimistic, effort estimates of the same software development work than those receiving the traditional format. Studies 3 and 4 suggest that the effect belongs to the family of anchoring effects. An implication of our results is that project managers and clients should avoid the alternative estimation request format.},
  year = {2010},
  journal = {Journal of Systems and Software},
  volume = {83},
  number = {1},
  pages = {29-36},
}