What kinds of questions are you asking?
Here is the short list on different question types and what they yield:
Analytical Questions
These examine causes and not just symptoms.
Why has this problem happened?
Why did it do that?
Clarifying Questions
These result in further descriptions and explanations.
Are you saying that … ?
Could you explain more about the situation?
Fresh Questions
These challenge basic assumptions.
Must it be that way?
Has this ever been tried?
Questions that Create Connections
These give a systems perspective.
What might be the consequences of these actions?
Explorative Questions
These open up new avenues and insights and lead to new explorations.
Have you thought of … ?
Would … have anything to help with that?
Probing Questions
These cause the person to go into more depth.
Why is this happening?
What did the situation trigger in you?
Reflective Questions
These encourage more elaboration.
Can you help me understand what is going on in you?
What did you mean when you said that?
Affective Questions
These invite people to share feelings about an issue.
How did you feel about your presentation?
What was your initial reaction?
Open Questions
These give a high degree of freedom in how to respond.
What kind of things do you enjoy doing?
What comes easily to you?
Closed Questions
These can be answered with yes, no or a number.
How many people will be affected?
Do you agree with this decision?
Leading Questions
These encourage or force the person to respond in a way intended by the questioner.
Don’t you think that you should have … ?
You thought I wouldn’t notice, didn’t you?
Teaching Adventures 