MS Word documents changing to .cpio files and then to .zip files

I really need help with this issue: whenever I try to open a word document file from my Mac, the archive utility application opens up and turns the .doc file into a .cpio file and if I click on that it then turns into a .zip file. I've tried to research and even called Mac Support and they were not helpful. I just want my MS Word files to open up when I double click on them. I don't know how to stop the archive utility from opening up. It's a repetitive cycle of .cpio file to .zip file to .cpio and so on. If anyone knows how to fix this issue please let me know.