🎙️Art of the Interview Unit 3 – Question Formulation Techniques

What's QFT All About?

• Question Formulation Technique (QFT) is a structured method for generating and improving questions
• Developed by the Right Question Institute to help people become better questioners and critical thinkers
• Encourages divergent thinking by separating the process of generating questions from judging their quality
• Promotes metacognition by having participants reflect on the types of questions they ask and how to improve them
• Can be applied in various contexts such as education, research, problem-solving, and decision-making
  • In education, QFT can help students develop curiosity, engage with content, and take ownership of their learning
  • In research, QFT can assist in formulating research questions, hypotheses, and identifying gaps in knowledge
• Emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions rather than just seeking the right answers
• Helps to break down complex issues or topics into more manageable parts through targeted questioning

Key Components of QFT

• Question Focus (QFocus) serves as a stimulus for question generation, can be a statement, image, or scenario
• Divergent thinking phase where participants generate as many questions as possible without judging their quality
  • Encourages creativity, openness, and exploration of different perspectives
  • Aims to produce a diverse range of questions
• Convergent thinking phase where participants analyze, prioritize, and refine their questions
  • Involves categorizing questions as open or closed-ended
  • Encourages reflection on the purpose and value of different types of questions
• Metacognitive reflection on the questioning process and how to improve it
  • Participants consider what they learned about the topic, their questioning skills, and how to apply this learning
• Emphasis on collaboration and shared learning, as participants work together to generate and refine questions
• Facilitator plays a key role in guiding the process, providing clear instructions, and creating a safe space for questioning

The QFT Process Step-by-Step

1. Introduce the Question Focus (QFocus) to participants
2. Establish the rules for producing questions (e.g., ask as many questions as possible, do not stop to judge, discuss, or answer questions)
3. Divergent thinking phase: Participants generate questions individually or in groups
   • Encourage participants to write down every question that comes to mind
   • Aim for quantity over quality at this stage
4. Categorize questions as open or closed-ended
   • Open-ended questions require more than a yes/no or one-word answer and invite explanation and discussion
   • Closed-ended questions can be answered with a simple yes/no or a specific piece of information
5. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of open and closed-ended questions
6. Prioritize questions based on the purpose or goal of the inquiry
   • Consider which questions are most important, relevant, or thought-provoking
   • Select a manageable number of priority questions to focus on
7. Reflect on the questioning process and how to improve it
   • What did participants learn about the topic, their questioning skills, and the value of different types of questions?
   • How can participants apply this learning to future questioning and inquiry?
8. Plan next steps for using the prioritized questions (e.g., research, discussion, problem-solving, decision-making)

Types of Questions and Their Uses

• Open-ended questions encourage elaboration, explanation, and discussion
  • Useful for exploring complex issues, understanding perspectives, and promoting critical thinking
  • Examples: "How might we address this challenge?" or "What are the potential consequences of this decision?"
• Closed-ended questions seek specific, factual information or a yes/no response
  • Useful for gathering data, confirming understanding, or making decisions
  • Examples: "When did this event occur?" or "Do you agree with this statement?"
• Probing questions seek to clarify or deepen understanding of a response
  • Useful for eliciting more detail, uncovering assumptions, or exploring reasoning
  • Examples: "Can you explain what you mean by that?" or "What evidence supports your perspective?"
• Hypothetical questions explore imagined scenarios or possibilities
  • Useful for encouraging creative thinking, predicting outcomes, or considering alternatives
  • Examples: "What if we approached this problem differently?" or "Imagine if resources were unlimited, then what?"
• Reflective questions encourage introspection and self-awareness
  • Useful for promoting metacognition, personal growth, and professional development
  • Examples: "What did you learn from this experience?" or "How has your perspective changed?"

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Rushing to judgment or evaluation of questions during the divergent thinking phase
  • Remind participants to defer judgment and focus on generating a variety of questions
• Favoring quantity over quality of questions
  • Emphasize the importance of both generating many questions and refining them for clarity and relevance
• Neglecting to categorize or prioritize questions
  • Guide participants through the process of analyzing and selecting questions based on their purpose
• Failing to consider the purpose or context of the questioning
  • Encourage participants to align their questions with the goals of the inquiry or the needs of the situation
• Overlooking the value of closed-ended questions
  • Discuss the advantages of closed-ended questions for gathering specific information or making decisions
• Ignoring the potential for follow-up or probing questions
  • Prompt participants to think about how they might deepen or clarify responses to their initial questions
• Skipping the reflection and metacognition phase
  • Allocate time for participants to consider what they learned and how to apply their questioning skills

Applying QFT in Interviews

• Use QFT to generate and refine questions before the interview
  • Develop a diverse set of questions that cover key topics and elicit valuable information
  • Prioritize questions based on their relevance to the purpose of the interview
• Begin the interview with an open-ended question to establish rapport and gather context
  • Example: "Tell me about your background and what led you to this role."
• Use probing questions to clarify or deepen responses
  • Example: "You mentioned [specific point], can you elaborate on that?"
• Employ hypothetical questions to assess problem-solving skills or creativity
  • Example: "Imagine you were faced with [scenario], how would you approach it?"
• Close the interview with a reflective question to encourage self-assessment
  • Example: "What do you consider to be your greatest strength and area for improvement?"
• Adapt your questioning style to the needs and personality of the interviewee
  • Balance open and closed-ended questions, adjust pacing, and respond to nonverbal cues
• Practice active listening and avoid interrupting or rushing to the next question
  • Allow for pauses and silence to give the interviewee time to think and respond fully

Practice Exercises and Examples

1. Develop a QFocus related to a current event or social issue
   • Generate and prioritize questions to explore different perspectives and potential solutions
2. Conduct a mock interview with a partner using QFT
   • Take turns as the interviewer and interviewee, and provide feedback on questioning techniques
3. Analyze a recorded interview and identify the types of questions used
   • Assess the effectiveness of the questions in eliciting valuable information and suggest improvements
4. Create a question bank for a specific interview purpose (e.g., job interview, research study)
   • Categorize questions by type and prioritize based on relevance and potential impact
5. Practice reformulating closed-ended questions as open-ended ones, and vice versa
   • Example: Closed-ended: "Do you enjoy your job?" Open-ended: "What aspects of your job do you find most fulfilling?"
6. Engage in a group QFT session to explore a complex problem or decision
   • Reflect on how the process of questioning contributed to a deeper understanding and more informed choices

Beyond Interviews: Other Applications of QFT

• Education and learning
  • Encourage students to generate questions about a topic before, during, or after a lesson
  • Use QFT to promote inquiry-based learning and student engagement
• Research and academic writing
  • Apply QFT to identify research questions, gaps in knowledge, or areas for further investigation
  • Use questioning to analyze sources, evaluate evidence, and construct arguments
• Problem-solving and decision-making
  • Employ QFT to break down complex problems, identify root causes, and generate potential solutions
  • Use questioning to explore the implications and consequences of different decision options
• Professional development and training
  • Incorporate QFT into workshops or seminars to encourage active participation and reflection
  • Use questioning to identify learning needs, set goals, and assess progress
• Personal growth and self-reflection
  • Apply QFT to explore one's own beliefs, values, and assumptions
  • Use questioning as a tool for self-discovery, goal-setting, and overcoming challenges