Chapter 4.1, Problem 3.2CYU

To determine

To explain how the wordings of the question could result in bias and be sure to specify the direction of the bias.

Explanation of Solution

It is given in the question that a survey paid for by makers of disposable diapers found that $84\%$ of the sample opposed banning disposable diapers. The question asked mentioned only the percentage that the disposable diapers account for in the trash in today’s landfills and also the percentage of other small wasters of the trash in the landfills. The error in framing the question is that the question asked was that would it be fair to ban disposable diapers but the response from the people should not be about the fairness, the question should be about the hygiene and non-hygiene of the disposable diapers for the society. The wording of the questions is the most important influence on the answers given to the sample survey. Confusing and leading question can introduce strong bias and it will result in the non-response bias as changing words can gently change a survey’s outcome.