The fifth objective was neutrality: the wording and information in the survey
instrument should not be perceived by respondents as promoting the interests of
any particular party such as the oil companies, government or environmentalists.12
The instrument's wording was critically peer reviewed at various stages in its development
to help assess our success in meeting this objective. A diagnostic question
about who the respondents believed was sponsoring the study was also included to
see if one party was identified more than another.