Here is an open question from Tom's study.\n\nHow much do you earn? £______\n\nWrite down a problem with this question.

This question has several flaws common in questionnaire design: \n1. **Sensitivity:** Income is a highly personal topic. Many people are uncomfortable disclosing their earnings to a stranger, which can lead to a high non-response rate or inaccurate answers. \n2. **Vagueness:** The question lacks a time frame. One person might write their annual salary, another their weekly wage, and another their hourly rate. This makes the data inconsistent and incomparable. A better question would be "What is your approximate annual income before tax?". \n3. **Data Type:** As an open question, it will generate a wide range of specific numerical answers, which can be difficult to group and analyse later. Often, for sensitive topics like income, it is better to use banded response options (e.g., £20,000-£29,999).