Questioning Formats

When selecting questions to ask, there is a broad range of questions from which to choose. Each of these question formats achieves a slightly different outcome.

Fact-finding questions are targeted at verifiable data such as who, what, when, where and how much. Use them to gather information about the current situation.

e.g. "What kind of computer equipment are you now using?"
"How much training did staff receive at the start?"


Feeling-finding questions ask for subjective information that gets at the participants’ opinions, feelings, values and beliefs. They help you understand views, and they contain words like think or feel.

e.g. "How do you feel about the effectiveness of the new equipment?"
"Do you think the staff felt they received enough training?" 


Tell-me-more questions can help you find out more about what the participants are saying. They encourage the speaker to provide more details.

e.g. "Tell me more." "Can you elaborate on that?"
"Can you be more specific?"


Best/least questions help you understand potential opportunities in the present situation. They let you test for the outer limits of participants’ wants and needs.
 
e.g. "What’s the best thing about receiving a new computer?"
"What’s the worst thing about the new equipment?"

Third-party questions help uncover thoughts in an indirect manner. They’re designed to help people express sensitive information.
 
e.g. "Some people find that computer training is too time consuming. How does that sound to you?"
"There is some concern about overly autocratic managers in many factories. Can you relate to that concern?" 

"Magic wand" questions let you explore people’s true desires. Also known as crystal ball questions, these are useful in temporarily removing obstacles from a person’s mind.

e.g. "If time and money were no obstacle, what sort of a computer system would you design for the department?"