What type of wording error does the following question make?Question: How much time, on average, do you spend studying EAP by yourself every week?A) 0-2 hoursB) 2-4 hoursC) 4-6 hoursD) 6 hours or more

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The prompt asks us to identify the type of wording error in the given multiple-choice item.

Option a: 'Using imprecise and/or ambiguous language' — This is the strongest candidate. The phrase 'by yourself' is ambiguous because it does not specify whether study done with others but individually counted, or strictly solo study. Additionally, 'on average' can be interpreted in various ways (over the semester, over the past week, etc.), leading to inconsistent responses. The overall wording fails to precisely define what counts as 'time spent studying EAP' and whether shared study sessions are included, making the question unclear.

Option b: 'Making questionable assumptions about the respondent's background' — There is no obvious assumption about the respondent’s background in this stem. It does not require knowledge about the respondent’s status, prior experience, or education level. Thus this is not the primary wording error here.

Option c: 'Using 'double questions'' — A double-barreled or double-question item asks two things at once, typically causing confusion. Here, the stem asks about time spent studying EAP, and there is no second, separate question embedded in the stem, so this label does not fit.

Option d: 'Asking the respondent a question that uses jargon' — The term 'EAP' may be unfamiliar to some respondents and could be considered jargon if not defined. However, the main issue identified in standard test-design terminology is typically ambiguity or vagueness in the stem rather than mere use of an acronym. Since the question’s core problem is the unclear scope ('by yourself' and 'on average'), this option does not capture the primary wording flaw as accurately as option a.

Taken together, while d points to potential jargon, the central wording error described by the stem is best characterized as imprecise or ambiguous language, making option a the most fitting diagnosis.

What type of wording error does the following question make?Question: How much time, on average, do you spend studying EAP by yourself every week?A) 0-2 hoursB) 2-4 hoursC) 4-6 hoursD) 6 hours or more

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