a biased question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a biased question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a question that is unfairly influenced by personal opinions or perspectives, leading to a skewed response. Example: "The survey included a biased question that led respondents to answer in a way that supported the researcher's hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The BHA's chief executive, Andrew Copson, said: In spite of a biased question that positively encourages religious responses, to see such an increase in the non-religious and such a decrease in those reporting themselves as Christian is astounding.

The Guardian

They have raised fears that the Scottish government could skew the referendum by setting a biased question, using unfair methods of choosing voters or fixing unfair rules for campaign donations.

The Guardian

The psephologist from Cranfield University says: "Well it certainly is not a biased question if you compare it to referendums which have been asked around the world.

BBC

Is Third Way right that opportunity is a stronger argument than fairness or is Mike Lux correct that the conclusion is based on a biased question being asked of an overly narrow portion of the electorate?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

As has been remarked on by Bumin et al. in the SPADI Turkish version, the depth of interviews performed to assess the comprehensibility of the questionnaire, revealed that there is a gender-biased question (i.e. How much difficulty do you have removing something from your back pocket?), because men usually carry items in their back pocket but women generally do not [ 38].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Biased questions are a leading cause of inaccurate surveys, and hidden biases of researchers must be accounted for in a well-designed experiment.

Forbes

Palin has bitterly referred to Couric "as the lowest rated news anchor in network television" with "a partisan agenda" who hammered Palin with "repetitive, biased questions".

Huffington Post

She would bitterly refer to Couric "as the lowest rated news anchor in network television" with "a partisan agenda" who hammered Palin with "repetitive, biased questions".

Huffington Post

We conclude with a discussion of the impact of the bias built up by biased questions and answers on the format of French news interviews.

Journal of Pragmatics

In one report she found that opinion researchers must sometimes resort to biased questions to detect bias on the respondent's part.

The New York Times

Particular attention will be paid to yes no questions and to the strategies elaborated by interviewees to answer biased questions without violating the agreement principle.

Journal of Pragmatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When designing surveys or conducting interviews, carefully review your questions to ensure they are neutral and do not inadvertently lead respondents to particular answers. Use pilot testing to identify potential biases.

Common error

Do not assume that your questions are inherently neutral. Subconscious biases can easily creep into your wording. Always have someone else review your questions for potential biases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a biased question" functions as a noun phrase, where "biased" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "question". This phrase typically identifies questions that are not neutral and are unfairly influenced. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a biased question" is used to describe questions that are unfairly skewed towards a particular viewpoint, compromising objectivity. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts. To ensure neutrality in questioning, it's important to pilot test questions and seek external reviews to identify potential biases. Related phrases include "a leading question" and "a loaded question". Although the phrase is not very common, understanding its implications is crucial for ethical communication and research practices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a leading question

Emphasizes the question's tendency to guide the respondent toward a specific answer.

a loaded question

Highlights the question's assumption of guilt or controversial presupposition.

a slanted question

Focuses on the lack of neutrality in the question's framing.

a prejudiced inquiry

Highlights that the question reflects preconceived biases of the questioner.

a tendentious question

Emphasizes the question's promotion of a particular point of view.

a manipulative question

Stresses that the question aims to influence the response unfairly.

a skewed question

Focuses on how the question is angled to elicit a distorted response.

a distorting question

Highlights how the wording of the question changes or twists the possible answer.

a biased survey item

Specifically addresses the issue of bias in a survey or questionnaire.

a question with a built-in bias

Draws attention to the inherent bias that is part of the question's construction.

FAQs

How can I identify "a biased question" in a survey?

Look for questions that contain leading language, make assumptions, or present only one side of an issue. Pilot testing and feedback from diverse reviewers can help identify potential biases.

What are some alternatives to using "a biased question"?

Instead of using "a biased question", consider rephrasing it to be more neutral and objective. Alternatives include "a leading question" or "a loaded question", depending on the specific type of bias.

Why is it important to avoid "a biased question" in research?

Using "a biased question" can skew results, compromise the validity of your findings, and lead to inaccurate conclusions. It's crucial for ethical and scientific reasons to ensure questions are neutral.

What's the difference between "a biased question" and "a neutral question"?

"A biased question" is worded in a way that favors a particular response or viewpoint, while a neutral question is objective and does not influence the respondent's answer.