Indoor Air sciences CSMI Practice Exam

What is a key issue with using a questionnaire during an assessment?

1. Questionnaires may mislead symptom communication

2. Obtaining all questionnaires back

3. Questions may lead people to answer a certain way

4. Getting management to believe the results

The correct answer is: Questions may lead people to answer a certain way

The use of a questionnaire during an assessment can significantly influence the data collected based on how the questions are structured. When questions are phrased in a certain way, they can lead respondents toward a specific type of answer, known as leading questions. This can compromise the validity of the responses, as individuals may feel inclined to answer in a manner that aligns with the way the question is framed rather than expressing their true feelings or experiences. This concern highlights the importance of designing questionnaires carefully to avoid bias and ensure that responses reflect genuine opinions and conditions. Addressing the other options helps to provide additional context. Misleading symptom communication can certainly occur, but it is often a result of poorly labeled or vague questions rather than the core issue tied directly to the questionnaire format itself. While obtaining all questionnaires back is crucial for comprehensive data collection, it does not directly relate to the fundamental problems inherent in the construction of the questions. Similarly, getting management to believe the results speaks more to issues of trust and interpretation rather than the mechanics of how questionnaires operate during an assessment. Thus, the focus on how question wording can sway responses makes option C the most relevant concern when using questionnaires for assessment purposes.