Art of Questioning

Art of Questioning
Introduction
Every day of our lives, we use questions. Much
of our day to day conversation involves either
asking or answering questions.
Types Of Questions
 Types Of Questions
There are two major types of questions
1. Open Questions
2. Closed Questions
Open Questions
• An open question allows the person to answer in
whatever way they choose.
• Open questions can have a range of possible
answers, although some will be better than
others.
e.g. “What do you think makes a country
democratic?”
Open questions also known as divergent
questions.
Closed Questions
• A closed question asks for specific information
or a yes/no response.
• Closed questions will have one clear answer.
• An example would be ‘Have you completed
your case study report?
Closed questions also known as convergent
questions.
 Types Of Questions
Other more advanced types of questions include
the following:
• Probing/clarifying Questions
• Reflective Questions
• Direct Questions
• Hypothetical Questions
Probing/Clarifying Questions
• In reality, these are open or closed questions that
serve to build on the person’s previous answers,
comments and responses.
• They use information already established in order
that we can explore further.
• These questions also demonstrate to the person
that they are being actively listened to.
Some examples of probing questions include:
1. Tell me more about that?
2. What happened next?
3. What did you do next?
4. How did that happen?
5. Can you tell me why?
6. Can you give me an example?
7. Who else was involved?
8. Dissatisfied? In what way were you
dissatisfied with your performance?
Reflective Questions
• Reflective questions or statements are really
comments made before another type of
question, which serve to soften the
questioning as well as demonstrate to the
speaker that they are being well and truly
listened to.
• They typically constitute a short summary of
what the other person has said, and may also
be considered as a type of paraphrasing.
Consider the following example:
Student: It’s just that I’m feeling really
under pressure with the placement at the
minute, and then I slept in this morning
and just managed to make it here in time,
even though I missed the bus and had to
walk all the way in. And it was raining…
Practice Educator: It sounds like you had a
bad morning.
You were saying that you are feeling really
under pressure with the placement?
(Reflective question)
In what way are you feeling under
pressure? (Probing
question)
Hypothetical Questions
• Hypothetical questions can be an excellent
way to encourage your student to reflect on
issues through thinking through previously
unconsidered options.
• They are also often used in interview
situations to test the creativity and mental
agility of prospective students or employees.
Consider the following hypothetical questions:
1. What other points would you consider if your
client was older?
2. What other questions would you ask your
patient if they also presented with shortness of
breath?
3. If I could arrange an extension on your final
report, how would you feel about presenting the
workshop?
4. If you had extra funding for the department,
how would you improve on current practices?
Direct Questions
Direct questions can be either open or closed
questions.
However, they tend to have the following
characteristics:
1. When posing a direct question, you always
use the name of the other person.
2. You pose the question as an instruction.
• Direct questions are especially helpful when you
need to get the other person’s attention and
acquire specific information.
• A direct question tends to begin with phrases such
as:
Tell me Jane, .......
Explain to me John, .....
Describe to me Jill, .....

Note :
Use of the other person's name tends to grab their
attention, while phrasing the question like an
Instruction (‘tell me’ etc) gives a specific command.
Consider the following example:
Practice Educator: ‘Did you get a chance to
observe any consultations this afternoon?’
(Closed question)
Student: ‘Yeah.’(Reading through a journal).
Practice Educator: ‘Tell me Tom, what sorts of
problems were people presenting with?
(Direct question)
 Summary
• Type of Question Use
Open Questions------For more information
Closed Questions-----For specific information or a
yes/no response
Probing Questions----For added detail
Reflective Questions-----To get the other back on
track
Hypothetical Questions-----To get the other to
think/reflect
Direct Questions----An instruction to get
attention