4.1 Communication skills - questioning techniques

Front

What type of questions invite a one-word answer, such as ‘yes’ or ‘no’?

Back

Closed questions

Front

What type of questions are popular as icebreakers in group situations because they’re easy to answer?

Back

Closed questions

Front

What type of questions are: 'Do you drive?' or 'Did you take my pen?'

Back

Closed questions

Front

Require a little more thought and generally encourage wider discussion and elaboration. They can’t be answered with a simple yes or no response. For example: ‘what do you think of your boss?’ Or ‘why did you choose that car?’

Back

Open questions

Front

Useful for: critical or creative discussion, finding out more information about a person or subject

Back

Open questions

Front

Useful for gaining clarification and encouraging others to tell you more information about a subject.

Back

Probing questions

Front

Usually a series of questions that dig deeper and provide a fuller picture. For example: ‘when do you need the finished project, and is it ok if I email it to you?’

Back

Probing questions

Front

Useful for: seeing the bigger picture, encouraging a reluctant speaker to tell you more information, and avoiding misunderstandings

Back

Probing questions

Front

What type of question is designed to lead the respondent towards a certain desired positive or negative route?

Back

Leading questions

Front

‘do you have any issues with the project?’, or ‘did you enjoy working on that project?’ The former subtly prompts the respondent towards a negative response; the latter towards a positive. Asking ‘how did you get on with that project’ will get you a more balanced answer.

Back

Leading questions