Can wording of questions bias poll results?
How questions in a poll are worded is as important as sampling procedure in obtaining valid results. Most professional polling organizations and their media clients review the wording of questions as carefully as editors would examine a manuscript before publication. This process usually calls for a review of several drafts prior to fielding a poll. Questions are checked for balance, that is, are they worded in a neutral fashion without taking sides on an issue? Does the question represent both sides of an issue fairly? Answer choices read to poll respondents must also be balanced; e.g., approve or disapprove, favor or oppose. The order of questions must be in logical order. That is, general questions are asked before specific questions. For example, overall job approval of an incumbent must be asked before specific questions are asked which may remind respondents about the incumbent’s successes or failures. The same goes for questions asking respondents which side they take on an issu
