Chapter 3: Questions and Their Uses
Essay
1. Compare and contrast the advantages of open and closed questions.
2. Define a question as used in interviewing.
3. Identify and illustrate the different types of bipolar questions.
4. Compare and contrast nudging probes and clearinghouse probes.
5. Why are reflective and mirror questions neutral rather than leading?
6. Identify each of the following questions in four ways from the options given. Do NOT
select more than one option from any list.
a. open a. primary a. neutral a. bipolar
b. closed b. secondary b. leading b. reflective
c. mirror
d. nudging
e. clearinghouse
f. informational
g. restatement
h. loaded
i. None of the answers is correct.
_____ _____ _____ _____ Are you saying that you’re not going to take the position?
_____ _____ _____ _____ Have you seen the new Chrysler van?
_____ _____ _____ _____ So?
_____ _____ _____ _____ What have we NOT discussed?
_____ _____ _____ _____ That was NOT a good idea, was it?
7. When might an interviewer use a silent probe?
8. Under what circumstances might you use loaded questions?
9. What is interviewer bias?
10. How are restatement and reflective probes different?
11. Discuss the dangers of using “Why” questions.
12. Explain the advantages of open questions.
13. Explain the disadvantages of closed questions.
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14. Identify a disadvantage of open questions.
a. They polarize answers.
b. They allow respondents to select an answer or say yes or no without knowing
anything about a topic.
c. They allow respondents to withhold important information that they feel is
sensitive or dangerous.
d. They obtain too little information.
15. Which of the following is a salient feature of open questions?
a. They communicate interest and trust in a respondent’s ability to disclose
important information and are easier to answer.
b. They discourage respondents to talk and to determine the type and amount of
information to disclose.
c. They require little effort from either party and allow an individual to ask more
questions, in more areas, in less time.
d. They elicit answers that are easy to record and tabulate.
16. Which of the following is a characteristic of a closed question?
a. Reliability of data is low.
b. Economic use of time is low.
c. Interviewer skill required is high.
d. Answers are easy to record and tabulate.
17. “You agree, then, with this report?” is an example of a _____.
a. reflective probe
b. mirror question
c. bipolar question
d. clearinghouse probe
18. It is advisable to use a _____ when a silent probe fails or words seem necessary to get
what is needed.
a. nudging probe
b. clearinghouse probe
c. reflective probe
d. bipolar question
19. A mirror probing question is different from a reflective probing question because:
a. it includes name-calling, emotionally charged words, expletives, and unequal
options that may lead an interviewee to choose the least onerous choice.
b. it is designed to elicit a yes or a no answer or a choice among two poles such as
conservative or liberal, like or dislike, and agree or disagree.
c. it may intentionally or unintentionally suggest the answer the interviewer expects
or prefers.
d. it summarizes a series of exchanges to ensure understanding and retention of
information, instructions, prescribed regimens, and procedures.
20. Which of the following is an example of a leading question?
a. What were your reactions to the video on texting while driving?
b. Are you a conservative or a liberal?
c. Do you hate to work out as much as the rest of us do?
d. How do you feel about legalizing gay marriage in this state?
21. “Do you feel you can handle this position?” is an example of a _____.
a. bipolar trap
b. double-barreled inquisition
c. guessing game
d. yes (no) question
22. One should ask a _____ when it appears necessary to verify or clarify an answer to be
certain that one has received it as intended.
a. reflective probing question
b. mirror question
c. silent probing question
d. restatement question
23. Questions are tools of the trade for interviewers and may be classified as:
a. open/closed, primary/secondary, neutral/leading.
b. clear/unclear, nice/not-so-nice, pleasant/unpleasant.
c. favorable/unfavorable, good/bad, active/passive.
d. open/closed, scheduled/nonscheduled, leading/loaded.
24. “Have you stopped speeding?” is an example of a(n) _____.
a. neutral question
b. humorous question
c. illegal question
d. loaded question
25. Which of the following is an example of a yes (no) question?
a. Do you want to be the best actor in the world?
b. What do you think about global warming?
c. When was the last time you exercised?
d. How do you travel to work every day?
26. A _____ is an extreme form of leading question that virtually dictates a desired answer.
a. clearinghouse probe
b. nudging probe
c. neutral question
d. loaded question
27. “Tell me about your internships” is an example of a(n) _____ question.
a. closed
b. open
c. neutral
d. leading
28. Which of the following is a disadvantage of open questions?
a. They may provide irrelevant information.
b. Interviewers have a difficult time maintaining control.
c. They often result in lengthy answers.
d. All of the answers are correct.
29. A _____ limits a respondent’s answer to two opposite choices.
a. bipolar question
b. primary question
c. silent probe
d. nudging probe
30. “Do you prefer exercising in the morning or evening?” is an example of a _____.
a. highly open question
b. bipolar question
c. clearinghouse probe
d. nudging probe
31. Which type of questions introduce topics or new areas within a topic?
a. secondary questions
b. primary questions
c. probing questions
d. mirror questions
32. “I see” and “uh-huh” are examples of which type of probe?
a. a clearinghouse probe
b. a silent probe
c. a nudging probe
d. a reflective probe
33. “Is there anything more you would like to say?” is an example of a _____.
a. clearinghouse probe
b. nudging probe
c. reflective probe
d. mirror probe
34. If an interviewee does NOT seem to understand a question and you paraphrase it and ask
it again, this would exemplify a(n) _____ probe.
a. mirror
b. reflective
c. restatement
d. informational
35. If an interviewer is unsure of what the respondent meant in his or her answer, which type
of probe might be used?
a. a reflective probe
b. a restatement probe
c. a clearinghouse probe
d. None of the answers is correct.
36. A(n) _____ probe summarizes a series of answers to confirm understanding.
a. reflective
b. mirror
c. informational
d. restatement
37. Which of the following statements is true about leading questions?
a. They are intentional or unintentional.
b. They are implicit or explicit.
c. They are verbal or nonverbal.
d. All of the answers are correct.
38. Which of the following people routinely use loaded questions?
a. recruiters
b. police officers
c. journalists
d. All of the answers are correct.
39. What types of words should one use at the beginning of questions to avoid the bipolar
trap?
a. what
b. why
c. how
d. All of the answers are correct.
40. “Tell me something about your hobbies and interests” is an example of a _____.
a. loaded question
b. double-barreled question
c. yes (no) question
d. too high or too low question
41. When a sportscaster asks the obvious question, “Are you sorry your team lost?” they
have committed what question pitfall?
a. the guessing game
b. the open-to–closed switch
c. the yes (no) response
d. the leading push
42. The _____ pitfall occurs when an interviewer delves into information and emotions that
interviewees may be incapable of addressing because of social, psychological, or
situational constraints.
a. do not ask, do not tell
b. too high or too low
c. curious question
d. guessing question
43. The too high or too low pitfall occurs when an interviewer fails to prepare questions that
take into consideration an interviewee’s levels of knowledge and expertise.
a. True
b. False
44. A question can be a nonverbal act that invites an answer.
a. True
b. False
45. Closed questions communicate interest and trust in a respondent.
a. True
b. False
46. The tell me everything question is the opposite of the intentional bipolar question and the
yes (no) question.
a. True
b. False
47. A string of guessing questions may fail to accomplish what a single open-ended or
informational question can.
a. True
b. False
48. Highly closed questions are restrictive, often asking respondents for a single piece of
information.
a. True
b. False
49. Interviewers talk more than interviewees when asking closed questions.
a. True
b. False
50. Mirror and reflective probes are the same as leading questions.
a. True
b. False
51. If you go along with the questioner to try to be cooperative, this may be the result of
interviewer bias.
a. True
b. False
52. The use of probing questions separates a skilled interviewer from an unskilled
interviewer.
a. True
b. False
53. A poorly phrased probing question may alter the meaning of the primary question.
a. True
b. False
54. Leading questions enable respondents to decide upon answers without pressure from
questioners.
a. True
b. False
55. The use of extreme language is a common way to load a question.
a. True
b. False