Leading Questions

Definition

Leading questions are inquiries that suggest a particular answer or contain information that prompts the respondent to reply in a specific way. These types of questions can influence the direction of an interview and may lead to biased or skewed responses, making them a critical consideration in effective interviewing skills.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Leading questions often include assumptions that can steer the respondent towards a certain viewpoint, which is crucial for interviewers to recognize.
2. These questions can create discomfort for the interviewee, as they might feel pressured to answer in a way that aligns with the interviewer’s expectations.
3. In legal contexts, leading questions are typically discouraged during direct examination to ensure that testimonies remain unbiased and credible.
4. Effective interviewers often use a mix of question types, but need to be cautious with leading questions to maintain the integrity of the information gathered.
5. The way leading questions are phrased can affect not only the response but also the relationship between the interviewer and interviewee, potentially impacting future interactions.

Review Questions

• How do leading questions impact the quality of information obtained during an interview?
  • Leading questions can significantly skew the quality of information collected in an interview. By suggesting specific answers, they limit the respondent's ability to provide their true thoughts and feelings. This can result in biased data that doesn't accurately reflect the interviewee's perspective, making it essential for interviewers to formulate their questions carefully.
• Discuss why leading questions might be problematic in legal interviews and what alternatives could be used.
  • In legal interviews, leading questions can create bias and influence testimonies, which could undermine the integrity of the judicial process. Such questions can suggest answers that may not accurately reflect reality. To avoid this issue, attorneys often rely on open-ended questions that encourage witnesses to express their thoughts freely and provide comprehensive accounts of events without suggestion.
• Evaluate the role of leading questions in shaping interpersonal dynamics during interviews and their broader implications for communication behavior.
  • Leading questions play a crucial role in shaping interpersonal dynamics as they can influence how comfortable and open an interviewee feels. If an interviewer frequently uses leading questions, it might create an atmosphere of pressure or distrust, hindering honest communication. This dynamic not only affects the immediate interaction but can also impact future communications and relationships, emphasizing the need for thoughtful question design to foster positive dialogue.

Related terms

Open-Ended Questions: Questions that allow respondents to answer in their own words without restriction, encouraging elaboration and more detailed responses.

Closed-Ended Questions: Questions that can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no' or a specific piece of information, limiting the respondent's ability to provide more context.

Bias:

A tendency to favor one perspective or outcome over others, which can influence how questions are framed and how responses are interpreted.