---
url: "https://questionstar.com/principles-of-survey-research/chapter-3/slide-095.html"
title: "Avoid Treating Beliefs as Real Facts"
type: "lehrbuch-slide"
chapter: 3
chapterTitle: "Questionnaire"
slide: 95
---

# Avoid Treating Beliefs as Real Facts

*Opinions and beliefs often represent the real facts only in a distorted way. Ask about the two facts separately.*

### Facts instead of opinions

Opinions and beliefs often represent the real facts only in a **distorted** way. Ask about the two facts separately.

![Impossible figures — opinions represent the facts in a distorted way](/principles-of-survey-research/media/impossible_figures.png)

### Example

"Do you believe that more highly educated people tend to wear fur clothing more often?"

### Ask instead

1. "What is your level of education?" 2. "Do you wear fur clothing?"

---

*Slide 95 of 274 · Chapter 3: Questionnaire · Principles of Survey Research · Dr. Paul Marx*