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Loaded Question Definition

A question that is phrased in such a way as to suggest an answer. Also called a leading question.

A loaded question in marketing research is a survey or interview question that contains a built-in assumption or bias, which may influence the respondent’s answer or force them into a particular response, potentially compromising the validity of the data.

What are key characteristics of a loaded question in marketing research?

• Contains implicit assumptions that may not be true for all respondents.
• Often leads respondents toward a particular answer.
• Can introduce bias into research findings.
• May be emotionally charged or leading in tone.
• Limits respondents’ ability to answer freely or neutrally.
• Considered a flaw in survey/questionnaire design.

Why is a loaded question important to recognize in market research?            

Recognizing and avoiding loaded questions is important because they can distort results, misrepresent true consumer opinions and undermine the credibility of research findings.

Who uses loaded questions in marketing research?      

While ethical market researchers avoid using loaded questions, inexperienced researchers, biased survey designers or parties seeking persuasive rather than objective data may use them – often unintentionally.

How do market researchers avoid loaded questions?  

Market researchers do not intentionally use loaded questions. Instead, they identify and eliminate them during questionnaire design and pretesting, replacing them with neutral, unbiased wording to ensure accurate and reliable data collection.