Leading questions

Definition

Leading questions are inquiries designed to guide a respondent toward a specific answer or influence their response in a certain direction. They often contain assumptions that can steer the interviewee, making it easier for the interviewer to obtain the desired information or confirmation. These questions can impact the validity of the responses by introducing bias, potentially shaping the direction of the conversation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Leading questions can create bias in responses, making it difficult to determine the truthfulness of the answers given by the interviewee.
2. These types of questions can undermine the reliability of data collected during interviews because they may not reflect genuine opinions or experiences.
3. Interviews that rely heavily on leading questions may miss out on richer insights since respondents might feel pressured to conform to expected answers.
4. An example of a leading question is: 'Don't you think this product is the best on the market?' which suggests a preferred answer rather than inviting an open response.
5. Effective interviewing techniques typically encourage the use of open-ended questions over leading ones to foster a more authentic and informative dialogue.

Review Questions

• How do leading questions impact the quality of information gathered during interviews?
  • Leading questions can significantly affect the quality of information collected in interviews because they may prompt biased responses from interviewees. When a question suggests a particular answer or assumption, respondents might feel compelled to agree or provide answers that align with what they perceive as expected. This can lead to a lack of authenticity in responses and ultimately skew the data being gathered, preventing a true understanding of the subject matter.
• Discuss how leading questions differ from open-ended and closed-ended questions in terms of their influence on interview outcomes.
  • Leading questions differ from open-ended and closed-ended questions primarily in how they guide respondents' answers. While open-ended questions invite expansive and unrestricted responses, leading questions tend to steer respondents towards specific answers by implying certain assumptions. Closed-ended questions limit responses to predefined options, which can also introduce bias but in a different way. Both leading and closed-ended questions can restrict the depth and authenticity of the data collected compared to open-ended inquiries.
• Evaluate the ethical implications of using leading questions during interviews and their potential consequences for research integrity.
  • The use of leading questions during interviews raises significant ethical concerns related to research integrity. By guiding respondents toward specific answers, researchers risk manipulating data and misrepresenting findings, which can lead to unethical conclusions. This practice undermines the credibility of both the researcher and the research itself, as it compromises the authenticity of participants' voices. Ethical interviewing practices prioritize unbiased inquiry to ensure that research findings accurately reflect participants' true thoughts and experiences, which is essential for fostering trust and maintaining scientific rigor.

Related terms

Open-ended questions: Questions that allow respondents to answer in their own words without any limitations, encouraging more detailed and expansive responses.

Closed-ended questions: Questions that provide limited response options, typically requiring a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer, which can restrict the depth of information gathered.

Confirmation bias: The tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories, which can be influenced by how questions are framed during an interview.