Questioning Techniques Vocabulary

allowing a free response rather than a yes/no

“Ask open-ended questions to get richer responses.”

Origin: English open + end + -ed (descriptive compound)

requiring a specific, limited answer

“Use closed-ended questions for quantitative data.”

Origin: English closed + end + -ed (descriptive compound)

tending to suggest the desired answer

“Avoid leading questions that bias responses.”

Origin: Old English lædan `to guide` + -ing (verbal noun)

seeking to explore or examine deeply

“Follow up with probing questions to understand motives.”

Origin: Latin probare `to test` + -ing

asked for effect, not requiring an answer

“That was a rhetorical question—the answer is obvious.”

Origin: Greek rhētorikē `art of speaking` (from rhētōr `orator`)

involving or based on a supposed scenario

“Consider this hypothetical: what if we had unlimited budget?”

Origin: Greek hypothetikos `supposed` (from hypo `under` + tithenai `to place`)

using questions to stimulate critical thinking

“The Socratic method helps learners discover answers themselves.”

Origin: Greek Sōkratikos `of Socrates` (the philosopher who used this method)

designed to identify or determine something

“Ask diagnostic questions to pinpoint the issue.”

Origin: Greek diagnōstikos `able to distinguish` (from dia `apart` + gignōskein `to know`)

intended to make something clearer

“Let me ask a clarifying question before proceeding.”

Origin: Latin clarus `clear` + -ify + -ing

continuing a line of inquiry from previous questions

“I have a follow-up question about that response.”

Origin: English follow + up (compound noun)

relating to what has not happened but might have

“A counterfactual question: what if we hadn't made that change?”

Origin: Latin contra `against` + factum `fact` + -al

referring to itself or to the conventions of its type

“A meta question: is this even the right question to ask?”

Origin: Greek meta `beyond, after` (used as prefix)

containing an assumption that may not be true

“That's a loaded question—I reject the premise.”

Origin: English load + -ed (metaphorical extension of `carrying a burden`)

combining multiple questions into one

“Avoid compound questions; ask them separately.”

Origin: Latin componere `to put together` (from com- `together` + ponere `to place`)

relevant or applicable to the matter at hand

“Focus on pertinent questions to save time.”

Origin: Latin pertinere `to relate to` (from per `through` + tenere `to hold`)

only slightly relevant; diverging from the main point

“Let's set aside tangential questions for now.”

Origin: Latin tangere `to touch` + -ial (from geometry: touching at a single point)