Interview Question Types - Centers for Disease Control and ...

Interview Question Types 1 Learning Objectives After this session, participants will be able to 1. Describe four types of interview questions 2. List questioning pitfalls to avoid 2

Interview Question Types Closed-ended questions Open-ended questions Probing questions Checking questions 3 Closed-Ended Questions

What are closed-ended questions? Questions that: Generate short, finite answers (i.e., yes or no) Do not encourage discussion 4 Closed-Ended Questions Examples

Do you have symptoms of TB? Have you ever been tested for TB? 5 Open-Ended Questions What are open-ended questions? Questions that:

Generate descriptive answers that encourage discussion Require more than a one-word response to promote discussion 6 Open-Ended Questions Examples

What symptoms do you have? When did your symptoms begin? Who lives with you? Refer to Appendix L for sample open-ended questions 7 Exercise Change Closed-Ended

Questions into Open-Ended Questions 1. Do you live with anyone? 2. Do you have any side effects from medications? 3. Did the doctor tell you about TB? 8 Probing Questions/Statements What are probing questions/statements?

A question/statement used to gain more information Can be open-ended or closed-ended 9 Probing Questions/Statements Examples

Who are some of the people who have visited your home or lived with you in the past 3 months? Describe the places youve lived in the past 3 months. You mentioned that your aunt came for a visit, please tell me more about that.

10 Exercise Provide a Probing Question/Statement for the Following Cases Comments 1. You know, its really hard to say where I spend most of my time. 2. Taking these medications is just too much trouble and I dont think they will do any

good. 11 Checking Questions What are checking questions? Specific and targeted questions to assess the cases understanding of the information being shared with them

12 Checking Questions Examples Why do you think we need to test your family members for TB? Why is it important for you to take your

medicine everyday? 13 Exercise Create Checking Questions for the Following Scenarios 1. You have explained to the case why you need to collect information about the people close to him or her. 2. You and the case spent a lot of time

reviewing side effects of the TB medication. What questions can the interviewer ask to assess the cases understanding of this information? 14 Selecting a Question Type Begin with open-ended question If your question is not answered, ask a probing question

15 Questioning Pitfalls to Avoid Asking several questions at once Interrupting Leading questions (e.g., you dont live with anyone, do you?) Not providing enough time for the person to

answer the question 16 Review 1. What question types can be used throughout an interview to generate a discussion with a case? 2. What questioning pitfalls should be avoided?

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