A Student Planning a Survey on Altruism Seeks Your Advice

question 10

Essay

A student planning a survey on altruism seeks your advice. She is interested in documenting the level of altruism at her college, plans to do a Web survey, and is trying to figure out what questions to ask.
(a) Below are three of the many questionnaire items she is considering as possible measures of altruism. Focusing on the wording or language of the questions, carefully explain what is wrong with each item.
(1) Do you care about the homeless people in this country? [yes] [no]
(2) Do you regularly offer assistance to strangers? [yes] [no]
(3) Do you and your family contribute to United Way? [yes] [no]
(b) How would you revise each item to make it acceptable?
(c) Aside from your feedback on these items, what advice would you give her regarding types of question and question order?
(d) What recommendations would you make regarding the administration of the survey?

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Definitions:

Air Pollution Standards

Regulations established by government agencies aimed at controlling the emission of pollutants into the air to protect public health and the environment.

Industrial Solvents

Chemical substances used in manufacturing processes to dissolve, dilute, or extract other materials without chemically changing either the solvents or the other materials.

U.S. Army Corps

A federal organization responsible for public engineering, design, and construction management, including improvements to natural resources and infrastructure.

Wetlands

Areas of land designated by government agencies as protected areas that support wildlife and that therefore cannot be filled in or dredged by private parties.