Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Practice Exam

What could be a potential consequence of poorly worded questions in a survey?

1. High reliability of data

2. Unbiased responses from participants

3. Low participation rate

4. Biased responses

The correct answer is: Biased responses

The choice regarding biased responses is accurate because poorly worded questions can lead respondents to misinterpret the intent or meaning behind the questions. Vague or leading language can influence how participants understand the questions and subsequently how they respond. This misinterpretation can result in answers that do not accurately reflect the participants' true opinions or feelings, thereby creating bias in the collected data. For example, if a question is phrased in a way that implies a certain perspective or assumption, respondents may feel compelled to agree or respond in a manner that aligns with that implication rather than providing their true thoughts. This phenomenon undermines the validity of the survey findings and can skew the overall results. The other aspects, such as high reliability of data or unbiased responses, are less likely to result from poorly worded questions. A low participation rate could also occur from a variety of factors unrelated to the wording of questions, rather than the clarity or quality of the questions themselves.