Indoor Air sciences CSMI Practice Exam

What is a major concern when using a questionnaire during an assessment?

1. Questions may lead people to answer a certain way

2. Getting management to believe the results

3. Questionnaires may cause people to communicate their symptoms that are caused by the building

4. Getting all the questionnaires back

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

A major concern when using a questionnaire during an assessment relates to the potential for questions to lead respondents toward particular answers, thereby introducing bias into the results. This aspect is known as "leading questions," which can influence the way individuals interpret and respond to the inquiries based on the wording or structure of the questions. For example, if a question suggests that a condition might be prevalent, respondents may feel prompted to acknowledge symptoms they might not have considered otherwise. The design of a questionnaire is crucial, as it needs to be neutral and allow respondents to express their true thoughts and experiences without influence. This ensures that the data collected accurately reflects the participants' conditions and opinions, forming a reliable basis for assessment and conclusion. When questions are not thoughtfully constructed, the integrity of the data can be compromised, thus affecting the overall effectiveness of the assessment process. Other concerns, such as obtaining management's belief in the results, dealing with symptoms reported because of building issues, and ensuring all questionnaires are returned are also important, but they largely stem from operational challenges rather than inherent biases in the questionnaire itself.