A researcher uses the following question in an online questionnaire for adolescent girls and their attitudes toward their younger sisters (all participants had younger sisters): My sister would best be described as: An Overachiever; A 'Neat Freak'; A 'Couch Potato'; or 'An Athlete.' For which of the following reasons would the results of this survey be of doubtful validity?
A) Hypothetical questioning
B) Double-barreled questioning
C) Open-ended format
D) Vague/ill-defined response alternatives

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The response alternatives are vague and could be interpreted differently by different participants. What one person considers an "athlete" may not be the same as another person's definition. This could lead to inaccurate responses and doubtful validity of the results.

A Researcher Uses the Following Question in an Online Questionnaire