Chapter 5Asking Good Questions

Everybody knows how to ask good questions, right?

Wrong. In fact, the question you just read isn’t very good, because it implies its own “right” answer, the answer you’re supposed to give. It’s also a trick question because the “right” answer turns out to be wrong.

To illustrate how carefully questions must be worded to get useful information, let’s take an example. Let’s suppose that, as you’re shopping at the mall on a Saturday afternoon, you’re approached by a smiling person carrying a clipboard. You’re about to be interviewed by an opinion pollster.

Here’s the question you’re asked: “Do you feel that a person who has been caught engaging in an immoral activity can be trusted to serve in high elected office?” ...

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