Question 3.41

3.41 Survey questions.

Comment on each of the following as a potential sample survey question. Is the question clear? Is it slanted toward a desired response?

  1. “Some cell phone users have developed brain cancer. Should all cell phones come with a warning label explaining the danger of using cell phones?”
  2. “Do you agree that a national system of health insurance should be favored because it would provide health insurance for everyone and would reduce administrative costs?”
  3. “In view of escalating environmental degradation and incipient resource depletion, would you favor economic incentives for recycling of resource-intensive consumer goods?”

3.41

(a) The first sentence is slanted toward yes because it suggests a possible link between cell phones and brain cancer. (b) The question is slanted toward agreeing because it starts “Do you agree … ” and also contains a possible advantage of “reduce administrative costs.” (c) This is slanted toward a favorable response by the phrases “escalating environmental degradation” and “incipient resource depletion.”