Psychology OER Resources: RESEARCH METHODS

Clarification

• What do you mean by                     ?

• Could you put that another way?

• Could you give me an example?

• Could you explain that further?

​Probe Assumptions

• What are you assuming?

• What could we assume instead?

• You seem to be assuming                       .  Do I understand you correctly?

• You seem to be assuming                          .  How would you justify taking this for granted?

• Is it always the case?  

Probe Reasons and Evidence​

• How do you know?

• Why do you think that is true?

• What led you to that belief?

• Do you have any evidence for that?

• What would convince you otherwise?

Viewpoints or Perspectives​

• Can anyone see this another way?

• What would someone who disagrees say?

• What is an alternative?

Probe Implications and Consequences

• What are the consequences of your assumption?

• What else could also happen as a result?  Why?

• What effect would that have?

• Would that necessarily happen or only probably happen?

Questions About the Question

• Why is this question important?

• What does this question assume?

• Is the question clear?  Do we understand it?

• Is this question easy or hard to answer?  Why?

• To answer this question, what questions would we have to answer first?

• Can we break this question down into parts?