Question Wording Bias

Definition

Question wording bias is when the way a question is phrased influences how people respond, leading to biased results. The wording can unintentionally lead respondents towards a particular answer or create confusion.

Analogy

Imagine you're at a restaurant and the waiter asks you, "Don't you want dessert?" Instead of asking if you want dessert, they assume that you don't and try to convince you otherwise. This biased question wording might make it more likely for you to order dessert even if you initially didn't plan on it.

Related terms

Social Desirability Bias: Social desirability bias occurs when respondents provide answers that they believe are socially acceptable rather than their true opinions.

Leading Questions: These are questions that subtly guide respondents towards a particular answer by including suggestive language.

Loaded Questions: Loaded questions contain an assumption or controversial statement within them, which can influence how respondents answer.