Effects of Question Order on Survey Responses

Abstract

Two question orders were used in a Kentucky statewide random survey. In nonoverlapping sections, four questions which asked the respondents to express their general interests in politics and religion and their general evaluations of the gravity of the economic and energy situations either preceded or followed series of specific questions on the same issues. The respondents expressed significantly greater interest in politics and religion when these general questions followed the specific questions, but evaluations of the economic and energy crises were not significantly affected by question placement. Implications for the arrangement of questions within surveys are discussed.