Why a Question is Ambiguous

Question

The question 'Do you spend a lot of money on books in a month?' is a poor question because it is:

Select an answer

The question 'Do you spend a lot of money on books in a month?' is a poor question because it is:

  1. Too specific
  2. Ambiguous — 'a lot' is not defined — Correct Answer
  3. A leading question
  4. A two-way question with double negatives
Explanation:
Correct Answer Explanation

'Do you spend a lot of money on books in a month?' is an ambiguous question because the phrase 'a lot' is not defined — different respondents will interpret it differently.

Poor vs Good Version:
  • Poor Q: 'Do you spend a lot of money on books in a month?'
  • Good Q: 'How much do you spend on books in a month?' with options: (i) Less than Rs 200, (ii) Rs 200-300, (iii) Rs 300-400, (iv) More than Rs 400.
  • The good version is specific, measurable, and allows quick, clear answers.
  • Ambiguous questions lead to inconsistent and unreliable data.

📚 About this Topic — CH-2: Collection of Data

This multiple choice question is from CH-2: Collection of Data, NCERT Books, Statistics for Economics. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from CH-2: Collection of Data to strengthen your preparation.

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