Environics Research Group in Canada conducted a survey about firearms in which some respondents were asked to tell whether they agreed with the first or the second opinion described in the following: "The Auditor-General has found significant cost overruns in the national firearms registry program. Some people say that these cost overruns prove that the concept of the registry is unworkable and should be abandoned. Other people say that despite the cost overruns, the national firearms registry is still a good concept and should be completed."17 Other respondents were presented with the same pair of opinions, but in the reverse order.

a. Why were two different forms of the question asked?

b. Describe how researchers could explore whether or not the ordering of the two opinions may affect people's responses.

c. Would the survey's results tell you more about how all Canadians feel regarding firearms registry if there were 10 respondents or 1,000 respondents; or doesn't it matter?

d. Which one of the following  would most improve the above survey question: make it less complicated, give respondents more of a feeling of anonymity, or make it an open question?