Due to reading this chapter I feel the aim is to help people recognise the importance and power of questioning. The skill of questioning is found in every area of society and social interaction and begins at a young age as children are keen to learn about the world and environment around them.
A theme portrayed throughout this chapter is the effectiveness and crucial role questioning has in a child’s development, maturation and everyday life. Which leads into the idea given of how parents should listen to their children’s questions and take the time to answer them and help them understand what it is they want to know. Other themes within this chapter include the power of questions, the different types of questions and the effects they have as well as the responses people give when asked question and why they may respond this way.
The way people and children respond to questions depends on how the question is asked and how comfortable the person is when answering. Similarly how comfortable a person or child is has an effect on whether or not they themselves will ask a question. The chapter identifies that children within the classroom are less likely to ask questions or respond to questions being asked out of fear of getting a negative reaction from their classmates and their teacher.
The power of questioning is just that, power, depending on the situation the skill of question can be seen as a negative tool while trying to gain information. However I feel that this view of questioning should be challenged as not all questions are designed to make people uncomfortable and stressed. Questioning is an important skill and should not be abused so that the questioner feels like they are above those being questioned as this creates an uneven balance in power. While also creating a negative view on the technique, skill and importance of asking questions to gather necessary information which should be encouraged and not discouraged.
Reference List:
‘Finding out about others: the skill of questioning’, in Hargie, O. (2011) Skilled Interpersonal Communication: Research, Theory and Practice. 5th ed. London: Routledge.
