Which term describes the practice of designing questionnaires to minimize bias and gather reliable data?

• A. Reproducibility
• B. Replicability
• C. Social Desirability Bias
• D. Survey Design

Answer: (D)

Designing questionnaires to minimize bias and gather reliable data hinges on good survey design. The aim is to create questions and a data-collection plan that yield valid and reliable results, which means careful wording to avoid ambiguity, avoiding double-barreled or leading questions, and using balanced response options. It also involves practical choices like the mode of administration, the order of items, sampling approach, and pretesting or piloting to catch misunderstandings. By addressing potential biases such as social desirability or nonresponse, survey design helps ensure the data collected truly reflect what you intend to measure. The other terms describe biases or concepts related to results, not the process of building the questionnaire itself.