What is a major limitation of a written IAQ questionnaire?

• A. It can easily be misused by lay persons in obtaining and interpreting IAQ data
• B. It cannot capture occupant preferences
• C. It is extremely expensive
• D. It yields immediate, definitive results

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that a written IAQ questionnaire primarily captures occupant perceptions and self-reported symptoms, which are inherently subjective and not a substitute for objective measurements. Because answers depend on memory, mood, recent exposures, and how questions are worded, responses can be biased or incomplete. That makes the method susceptible to misinterpretation or misuse by non-experts who might draw conclusions about IAQ without verifying with actual data such as pollutant concentrations, ventilation rates, or humidity. A questionnaire can help point to potential issues, but it cannot alone provide a definitive assessment of air quality. It’s also relatively inexpensive and can reflect occupant preferences if designed thoughtfully, and it does not inherently yield immediate, definitive results, which is why the misinterpretation risk stands out as the major limitation.