Year: 1997
Type: article
Abstract: In 2 experiments the authors investigated how verb choice in question formulation influences respon-dents ' answers. These studies show that (a) as hypothesized, the choice of verb type (action vs, state) in forming a question influences interviewees ' narratives systematically by impacting, inter alia, which individual is implicitly described as the causal originator of a social event; (b) interviewees are not aware of how their answers are manipulated; and (c) others who listen to or read the very same answers are sensitive to the linguistic differences in the narratives that are shaped by verb choices in question formulation. The implications of these findings for the self-fulfilling prophecy are discussed. How one answers questions can have dramatic consequences. It can make a difference between getting or losing a job, being convicted or released, and being trusted or distrusted. Obviously, the way one asks questions is also crucial and can have similar existential implications, such as making the difference between getting married or being dumped or between going out on a date or picking daisies. In two studies, we investigated how
Authors: Gün R. Semin, Christianne J. De Poot
Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2014341374