Title: Questioning Skills and Techniques | SkillsYouNeed
Headings: 
Questioning Skills and Techniques
This page covers verbal questioning.
Why Ask Questions?
Although the following list is not exhaustive it outlines the main reasons questions are asked in common situations.
To Obtain Information:
To help maintain control of a conversation
Express an interest in the other person
To clarify a point
To explore the personality and or difficulties the other person may have
To test knowledge
To encourage further thought
In group situations
How to Ask Questions
Being Structured
Use Silence
Using silence is a powerful way of delivering questions.
Encouraging Participation
In group situations leaders often want to involve as many people as possible in the discussion or debate.
Further Reading from Skills You Need
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Content: Is this the right time to ask the question? How do I expect the respondent will reply? When actually asking questions – especially in more formal settings some of the mechanics to take into account include: Being Structured
In certain situations, for example if you are conducting a research project or you work in a profession that requires the recording of information, it may be necessary to ask large numbers of questions. In such cases it is usually a good idea to inform the respondent of this before you start, by giving some background information and reasoning behind your motive of asking questions. By doing this the respondent becomes more open to questions and why it is acceptable for you to be asking them. They also know and can accept the type of questions that are likely to come up, for example, “ In order to help you with your insurance claim it will be necessary for me to ask you about your car, your health and the circumstances that led up to the accident ”. In most cases the interaction between questioner and respondent will run more smoothly if there is some structure to the exchange. Use Silence
Using silence is a powerful way of delivering questions. As with other interpersonal interactions pauses in speech can help to emphasise points and give all parties a few moments to gather their thoughts before continuing.