4.19 Wording 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? (Survey questions on issues that one might regard as inflammatory are often prone to slanted wording.)
(a) Which of the following best represents your opinion on gun control?
1. The government should take away our guns.
2. We have the right to keep and bear arms.
(b) In light of skyrocketing gasoline prices, we should consider opening up a very small amount of Alaskan wilderness for oil exploration as a way of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Do you agree or disagree?
(c) Do you think that the excessive restrictions placed on U.S. law enforcement agencies hampered their ability to detect the 9/11 terrorist plot before it occurred?
(d) Do you use drugs?