Asking "Good" Questions

Every support group leader and member faces a challenge in his/her efforts to obtain accurate,
clear information about those individuals who come into the support group. It is a mistake to
assume that all are alike simply because they share the problem or concern being addressed by the
group.
Members are often alike in many ways, but they also can be quite dissimilar in how they are
responding to and coping with their problem or concern. Members also differ in the ways in which
they express their feelings and concerns.
Therefore, it becomes very crucial for the members of the group to take the time and effort to learn
about each individual member and his/her specific needs, problems, and coping behaviors. A
carefully worded question can serve as a powerful tool to that end. Several issues need to be
clarified regarding the process of asking "good" questions. An efficient facilitator needs to have an
under-standing about asking questions.

Understand some of the basic reasons for asking questions.

People ask questions in order to obtain information. However, the situation and the kind of
information needed will influence the type of questions asked. Questions may be used to begin a
conversation. An example is to say, "What would you like to talk about tonight?" Questions that
allow for a broad range of responses are useful for initiating interactions and getting people
comfortable talking in a group situation. Other questions may ask for specific information such as,
"What things have you tried so far?" or "How did that work for you?" or "What do you hope to
gain by doing that?" Questions may also be used to extend or elaborate on existing information.
An example is to ask, "Can you tell me more?" or "Can you think of other suggestions that might
be useful?" Another reason for asking questions is to clarify a response in order to increase
understanding. An example would be, "What do you mean by failure?"

Understand the different types of questions that can be asked.

There are three general types of questions that can be asked: closed-ended, open-ended, and
multiple-choice questions. Closed-ended questions are designed for factual information and
usually call for brief answers (yes/no). Closed-ended questions may start with words such as, "Did
you...", "Who...", or "Are you...". Closed-ended questions are appropriate for some situations but
may result in misunderstandings. For example asking, "Were you late because you forgot or
because you just don't care?" makes assumptions about actions that may be incomplete or
inaccurate. A good use of closed-ended questions is to check your understanding of the content
and feelings of the message, i.e., "Did you say the meeting will be next Tuesday?".Open-ended
questions are designed to help clarify ideas and feelings. They call for extended answers which
usually are not predictable. Open-ended questions may begin with starter phrases such as,
"How...", "What...", or "Why...". In comparison with the previous closed-ended example, "Were
you late because you forgot or because you just don't care?" an open-ended question such as,
"Why were you late?" would be more conducive to accurate communication. Multiple-choice
questions are a form of closed-ended question. They require the person responding to choose one
of a limited number of responses. This type of question allows an efficient exchange of
information when the response is restricted by necessity. For example, "Which do you think would
be the best place for the next fundraiser--the church, the school or the town hall?" This type of
question is very useful for some things in a support group meeting, such as decision making, but it
is not as conducive to communication as open-ended questions.
Understand some of the basic motivations for asking questions.
Within a support group meeting, some questions may be more appropriate than others. The
difference at times may not be the question but rather the motivation prompting the question.
Therefore, it is useful for the facilitator to understand why members of the group are asking
questions. An important motivation for asking questions in a support group meeting is to enhance
the helping process. This process is likely to be aided through questions that facilitate the
exchange of information in a concise and clear way. Another motivation for asking questions may
be to satisfy curiosity. While curiosity is not itself inappropriate, within a support group meeting
questions motivated by curiosity are best kept at a minimum in order to respect members' privacy
and to not impede the helping process. Finally, questions may be used as fillers when a person
lacks something to say. When used strategically, questions can get the group back on track again
and pave the way for further discussion.

Understand the sensitivity required in the asking of questions.

When asking questions, it is important to respect the members' rights and feelings. Questions are
more likely to be answered honestly when they are asked in a non-threatening and non-judgmental
way. For example, "How could you do that?" could be reframed to show more sensitivity and be
less judgmental while still seeking a response, i.e., "What did you hope would happen when you
did that?" In the preceding example, the question was reframed to encourage the person to focus
on the desired outcome. This could then lead to other productive questions such as, "How would
[the desired outcome] be beneficial for you?" or, "Are there other actions more likely to help you
get [the desired outcome]?" Asking questions in an objective way can diffuse defensiveness and
allow for better communication. It is also important to remember that the person being asked a
question may choose not to respond. Group members can show they care by respecting each
others' rights with sensitivity and understanding.