Final answer:
Leading questions should be avoided because they suggest answers and can bias results. Bias in polling can come from leading language or the interviewer's identity. It's crucial that questions are unbiased and carefully crafted to get accurate responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leading questions should be avoided because they suggest ways of answering and may bias the results. This type of question can influence the respondent's answer by implicitly providing them with a clue about what is considered the 'right' or expected response. Such clues can stem from the question's wording, tone, or by introducing unrelated context which may affect the participant's attitude towards the question.
In the realm of polling and surveys, it's essential that questions are framed in an unbiased manner to capture honest and accurate responses. Studies demonstrate that even minor changes in wording can significantly alter the responses. For example, using terms like 'global warming' versus 'climate change' or framing questions with a particular context (e.g., mentioning high unemployment rates before asking about presidential approval) can lead to different answers, which may not reflect the true opinions of respondents.
Beyond wording, other forms of bias like interviewer bias and response bias can affect results. Interviewer bias can arise from the perceived identity of the surveyor, such as their social class, race, or gender, whereas response bias occurs when participants misreport their opinion, often to present themselves in a more favorable light.