‘Finding out about others: the skill of questioning’ Hargie, O. (2011) Skilled Interpersonal Communication: Research, Theory and Practise. 5th ed. London: Routledge, Chapter 5, p117-153
The aim of this chapter is to demonstrate how important questions are to communication. Different questioning styles can be used depending on the subject and/or person to receive responses.
There are many themes running through the text. Education is explored from the outset ‘Information seeking is a core human activity that is central to learning, decision making and problem solving’ (Mokros and Aakhus 2002). Questions can be used by both teachers and pupils to gain deeper understanding.
Control is also a theme, the way a question is asked can control the answer that is given. This applies in all walks of life including: retail, the medical profession and by lawyers.
A theme of children runs throughout the chapter, from early years through to the older child. Questions put to children should be delivered appropriately as children do not process questions the way an adult might.
There is a claim in the chapter that physicians ask most of the questions with patients providing most of the information during consultations. This is backed up by research (West 1983) which found that from a total of 773 questions only 9% were initiated by patients.
In the section, subtle leads its can be argued that answers reflecting from recovered memory can be false memory planted from biased questioning.
The statement that patients find difficulty in asking consultants questions as they do not wish to appear ignorant is now out of date. In this era of digital technology patients have the tools to research any condition they may have and are well equipped to challenge the medical profession.
Acquiescence meaning to reluctantly accept without protest is used quite often in the chapter and is a word that needed clarification.
Rhetorical questions are a concept mentioned in the chapter, this means a question that requires no answer as either the answer is already given in the question or the question is a statement.
