The aim of the chapter is to explain the importance of questioning and the different types that exist. The three different themes that Hargie covers within this chapter are the different types of questions, the different impacts questions can have, and the importance of questions in the classroom.

One claim that Hargie makes within the chapter is that questions are key to a child’s cognitive development. the evidence used to back this up was “it is important for the child’s development that parents take time to answer these questions”

Another claim that Hargie makes is that without questions conversations and interaction would be limited. his example used in the text was a group of four having to discuss the events of the week and conversation was very difficult.

Another claim that Hargie makes is that children will not ask questions within the classroom environment as they would be worried that their peers would judge them. one way Hargie backs this up is by quoting Dillon (1998) who states that “one major reason given by students for their reluctance to ask questions in class is fear of negative reaction from classmates”.

One claim that Hargie makes that i do not agree with is that “some open questions place more restriction upon respondents than others.” i disagree with this as i find that open questions allow for more varied and detailed answers that you may not be able to get from a closed question.

Some words  from the chapter that i did not understand were:  presuppositions, corroborated,  multifaceted and stenographer.

Reference

Finding out about others: the skill of questioning, chapter 5- Hargie, O.(2011) Skilled Interpersonal Communication: research, theory and practice 5th ed. London: Routledge