What is a leading question?

What is a leading question?

• A. A two-part question.
• B. A question with neutral wording.
• C. Encourages a particular answer.
• D. A question that cannot be answered.

Answer: (C)

Leading questions are questions that nudge respondents toward a specific answer through biased wording or assumed information. They push you to agree or give a particular response by the way they’re framed. In research, this distorts what people actually think or feel, which is why a leading question is defined as one that encourages a particular answer. For example, asking “Don’t you think this treatment is highly effective?” implies agreement and makes it more likely someone will say yes. In contrast, neutral wording asks for an honest response without bias; a two-part question is just a format and isn’t inherently leading; and a question that cannot be answered isn’t about guiding a response at all.

Leading questions are questions that nudge respondents toward a specific answer through biased wording or assumed information. They push you to agree or give a particular response by the way they’re framed. In research, this distorts what people actually think or feel, which is why a leading question is defined as one that encourages a particular answer. For example, asking “Don’t you think this treatment is highly effective?” implies agreement and makes it more likely someone will say yes. In contrast, neutral wording asks for an honest response without bias; a two-part question is just a format and isn’t inherently leading; and a question that cannot be answered isn’t about guiding a response at all.