The Power of the Question

“The quality of our thinking is given in the quality of our questions”

When people ask a question, it is normally because they are seeking information that they do not have. Yet the question can be one of the most powerful aspects of communication which can be used to extract information and guide thought. The key is having a good understanding of what the purpose is for the question that you may ask. This can go far beyond just gathering information. Unfortunately, most people are not familiar with how to formulate questions that will guide thinking.

“Every intellectual field is born out of a cluster of essential questions that drive the mind to pursue particular facts and understandings”

​Our society has developed into what we experience today based on the type of questions that were asked and seeking the answers to those questions. Apart from gathering information, formulating the right type of questions allows us to accomplish three major things.  First, a good question will allow us to analyze the thinking behind the thought process of the subject matter. Second, a good question will generate additional questions which will give you a more complete understanding of the subject matter. Third, a good question is specific and not ambiguous thus leading you to a definitive answer or point of view. People who are in the profession of Legal Counsel (Lawyers) have cultivated the skill of asking question which lead people to a specific destination.
           
As stated earlier, questions are more than just a vehicle for gaining information. When formulating a question, you must consider the reason behind why you asked the question. Do you want to investigate the truth of a theory or opinion? What about eliciting and developing
an idea? If this is your purpose for asking a question then you should consider Socratic questioning. There are many different type of questioning methods that you can use based on your purpose for the question. Let’s examine a few:

Factual Question – A question designed to receive specific information from the answer. Ex. Who was the first President of the United States?

Interest-Arousing Question – A question which purpose is to focus the attention and interest of the listener on the subject matter.Ex. Can a person influence someone based on the type of question he or she may ask?
 
Leading Question – A question that suggest its own answer. This question can be used to help a person think a matter through so that they can reach the correct answer. Ex. Would smoking a cigarette while putting gas in your car be a bad idea?  

Thought-Provoking Question – This is a question that is designed to stimulate thought regarding the subject matter. Ex. What is the difference between psychology and psychoanalysis?

One System Question – This question is based on an established procedure for the answer. It requires evidence and reasoning within a system and the answer is based on knowledge.

No System Question – This question is subjective with no correct answer. The answer can be a subjective opinion with no means of assessing the answer.  

Conflicting Systems Question – To answer this type of question the listener must consider multiple competing viewpoints. The answer requires evidence and reasoning within the conflicting systems. The answer is based on a judgement made by the listener after considering all the information of the competing viewpoints.

Analytic Question – This type of question focus on a specific part of something as it relates to the whole. Analytic questioning as it relates to how we think can be focus on the following components of thought: purpose; point of view; assumptions; implications and consequences; facts and experiences; and inferences and judgement.

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