Which question format is considered double-barreled?

A double-barreled question is one that asks about two different issues within a single question, which can lead to confusion for the respondent and makes it difficult to interpret their answer accurately. The question that fits this definition is the one that asks whether someone graduated from both college and high school.

This question encompasses two distinct educational accomplishments, potentially leading to a respondent being unsure if they should answer based on one or both parts of the question. For example, someone might have graduated from high school but not college, and thus they might struggle to respond appropriately. This ambiguity creates a problem in collecting clear and actionable data, as it does not allow for definitive responses about each educational level.

In contrast, the other question formats clearly address a single topic or issue, allowing respondents to provide more straightforward answers without confusion about multiple subjects. A well-crafted survey question should focus on one issue to yield clearer insights into the respondent’s opinions or experiences.