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Primary questions introduce a new topic in the interview. All the examples of open
and closed questions that were presented earlier are examples of primary questions. A
very different type of question is called a probe or secondary questions early in the
interview to get the respondent to relax and reveal more personal information.

Neutral versus Leading Questions

We can obtain more accurate information by employing the neutral questions. Stewart
and Cash (1988) offer the following examples:
The varying degrees of direction and the distinction between neutral and leading
questions are illustrated in the following questions.

1. Leading Questions 1. Neutral Questions
2. You like close detail work, don't you? 2. Do you like close detail work?
3. Do you oppose the union like most 3. What are your attitudes toward the
workers I've talked to union?
4. Wouldn't you rather have a Buick? 4. How does this Buick compare to other
cars in this price range?
5. How do you feel about these asinine 5. How do your feel about these
government rules? government rules?
6. Have you stopped cheating on your 6. Did you cheat on your last exam?
exams?
7. Would you classify yourself as a 7. Would you classify yourself as a
conservative or a radical? reactionary, conservative, moderate,
liberal, radical, or other?
8. Don't you think tax reform is unfair to 8. . How do you feel about tax reform?
farmers?

The Loaded Question
A more volatile and often annoying type of leading question is the loaded question,
which stacks the deck by implying the desired answer. This form of the closed question is
sometimes used to back the respondent into a corner. In effect, the interviewer poses and
answers his or her own questions:
Eg.: to a left-wing militant, “Isn''t it true that violence can only make matters worse?";
to the secretary of defense at a press conference "Hasn't your new policy been tried
in the past with no success?"
Such questions are emotionally charged, and they immediately put the respondent on
his or her guard. Undeniably, loaded questions are often used to advantage, especially in
the news media. Thus a politician can be asked questions that are on the lips of many
voters, being forced to meet the issues head on. Nonetheless, if we are interested in
getting information, the loaded question is a doubtful technique.
The loaded question has no advantages unless the goal is to see if the interviewee
can handle a threatening, hostile situation. The disadvantages are rather easy to surmise:
the interviewee loses whatever trust may have existed, may become "unraveled," and may
feel negatively toward the interviewer and the organization she or he represents.