A field service worker addresses focus group participants: “Thank you for being here. I am sure you are going to love these new chocolate donuts, but if you don’t you will need to complete a questionnaire telling us why.” The field service worker’s comments are _____. (Select all that apply.)

Question

Responses

not appropriate since some participants may not comment honestly
not appropriate since some participants may not comment honestly

not appropriate because they seem to tell people they are going to like the donuts
not appropriate because they seem to tell people they are going to like the donuts

appropriate since participants will know what they are getting into
appropriate since participants will know what they are getting into

appropriate for a focus group about chocolate donuts

Answer 1

The field service worker’s comments are:

1. Not appropriate since some participants may not comment honestly - This statement is valid because suggesting that participants will "love" the donuts might create a bias in their responses, leading them to provide feedback that aligns with the expectation rather than their true opinions.

2. Not appropriate because they seem to tell people they are going to like the donuts - This is also a reasonable observation. The phrasing presents an assumption that participants will enjoy the donuts, which could influence their feedback by creating a pressure to conform to that expectation.

3. Appropriate since participants will know what they are getting into - This could be argued as appropriate, as participants are made aware that they are part of a focus group where taste testing is involved.

4. Appropriate for a focus group about chocolate donuts - This could also be seen as appropriate, as it is relevant to the context of the focus group.

In summary, while there are points that deem the comments appropriate, there are also significant concerns regarding potential bias in participant responses.