Which question would be considered a “leading question?” Explain your answer. a. “What do you think is causing your headaches?” b. “You don’t get headaches often, do you?” c. “On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the severity of your headaches?” d. “At what time of the day are your headaches the most severe?”

In order to determine which question would be considered a “leading question,” it is necessary to understand the nature and purpose of leading questions. A leading question is a type of question that guides or influences the respondent’s answer in a particular direction. It contains presuppositions or wording that subtly suggests a preferred response or leads the respondent towards a specific answer. This characteristic of leading questions can potentially introduce bias and affect the accuracy of the information obtained.

Among the options provided, the question that can be considered a leading question is b. “You don’t get headaches often, do you?” This question is leading because it includes a presupposition or an assumption that the respondent does not experience headaches frequently. By framing the question in a way that assumes a particular answer, it influences the respondent and may lead them to respond with an agreement or confirmation, even if it is not an accurate representation of their experience.

On the other hand, options a, c, and d do not exhibit a clear indication of being leading questions. Let’s analyze each option in detail:

a. “What do you think is causing your headaches?”: This question is open-ended and allows the respondent to express their thoughts and provide an explanation for the possible causes of their headaches. While the response to this question can vary and offer insight into the individual’s perspective, it does not exhibit a leading quality.

c. “On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the severity of your headaches?”: This question aims to gauge the severity of the respondent’s headaches by asking them to rate it on a numerical scale. It seeks a more objective assessment rather than influencing the respondent’s answer. Thus, it does not possess the characteristics of a leading question.

d. “At what time of the day are your headaches the most severe?”: This question seeks to identify a pattern or time frame in which the respondent experiences the most severe headaches. It is straightforward and does not contain any leading elements. The respondent can provide their answer based on their own observations and experiences without any presumptions.

In conclusion, among the given options, the question “You don’t get headaches often, do you?” (option b) can be considered a leading question. This question introduces a presupposition that influences the respondent and assumes that they do not experience headaches frequently. The remaining options, a, c, and d, are not leading questions as they do not contain any presuppositions or wording that guide the respondent towards a specific answer.