Question

A researcher says to the respondents in a poll, “Eating too many sugary foods leads to cavities. Would you rather have soda or water served with your meal?” Is this a valid question to ask of sample respondents?
A. Yes, the more information provided by a researcher the better. Respondents can now give an informed opinion and the results will be more accurate.

B. No, the wording of the question makes respondents more likely to say water, even if they may actually prefer soda at a meal.

C. No, a researcher cannot ask people for preferences because they may not answer honestly. The researcher should observe people and record their beverage selections to insure accurate responses.

D. Yes, the researcher is simply stating a fact: eating sugary foods does lead to cavities. It is okay for a researcher to state facts in asking questions of respondents.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. No, the wording of the question makes respondents more likely to say water, even if they may actually prefer soda at a meal.

Explanation:

One important factor when designing questions in research is to avoid any language that might influence the answers of respondents. This recommendation was not followed in the question "Eating too many sugary foods leads to cavities. Would you rather have soda or water served with your meal?" because mentioning sugary foods, which includes soda, leads to cavities will make respondents consider soda is negative and they are more likely to choose water. This implies the wording in the question influences respondents and introduces bias, which is inappropriate. Thus, the correct answer is B.