Suppose two surveys are conducted,one asking people's level of support for "welfare" and the other using the term "assistance to the poor." The former survey finds much lower support than the latter.This discrepancy shows that __________.
A)public opinion surveys are generally unreliable
B)pollsters should avoid questions dealing with social policy
C)a misinformed public will provide inconsistent survey answers
D)pollsters must be careful to word questions in ways that avoid biased responses

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The discrepancy in support for welfare versus assistance to the poor can be attributed to the wording of the questions. This shows that pollsters need to be careful to word questions in a way that avoids biased responses. It does not necessarily mean that public opinion surveys are generally unreliable or that the public is misinformed. It simply highlights the importance of proper wording in survey questions.

Suppose Two Surveys Are Conducted,one Asking People's Level of Support