Reflective questions

Definition

Reflective questions are inquiries designed to encourage deeper thinking and self-assessment about experiences, beliefs, or ideas. They prompt individuals to explore their thoughts and feelings, leading to insights that can influence future actions or decisions. These types of questions are particularly useful in interviews as they help interviewees articulate their thoughts more profoundly and connect their experiences with broader themes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Reflective questions often start with phrases like 'What did you learn from...' or 'How did that experience change your perspective?' which encourage deeper thought.
2. These questions help interviewees make connections between their experiences and broader concepts, leading to richer interviews.
3. In interviews, reflective questions can create a more comfortable environment, as they invite personal storytelling and allow the interviewee to share insights.
4. Using reflective questions can enhance the quality of information gathered, as they encourage interviewees to think critically about their experiences.
5. Reflective questions are not only beneficial for interviewers but also promote personal growth for the interviewees by prompting them to analyze their thoughts and experiences.

Review Questions

• How do reflective questions differ from other types of interview questions in terms of promoting deeper understanding?
  • Reflective questions stand out from other types of interview questions because they focus on self-exploration and critical thinking. While open-ended and probing questions gather information, reflective questions encourage the interviewee to consider their experiences in depth and articulate personal insights. This approach fosters a richer dialogue and helps uncover underlying motivations and lessons learned.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of using reflective questions in interviews. What impact do they have on both the interviewer and interviewee?
  • Using reflective questions in interviews enhances effectiveness by facilitating a deeper conversation that goes beyond surface-level responses. For the interviewer, these questions yield richer content and insights, allowing them to draw connections between the interviewee's experiences and larger themes. For the interviewee, reflective questions create an opportunity for personal growth, as they encourage them to think critically about their journey, ultimately leading to a more engaging interaction.
• Design an interview strategy incorporating reflective questions that aims to uncover personal insights from participants. What considerations should be made?
  • An effective interview strategy incorporating reflective questions should start with establishing a comfortable atmosphere where participants feel safe to share. The interviewer should carefully select reflective questions tailored to the participant's background and experiences. Additionally, the interviewer should be skilled at listening actively and following up with further reflective prompts based on the participant's responses. It is also crucial to ensure that the timing of these questions allows for thoughtful reflection without feeling rushed, as this will maximize the depth of insight gained.

Related terms

Open-ended questions: Questions that cannot be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no,' requiring more elaborate responses that encourage discussion.

Probing questions: Questions that seek to gain deeper insight into a subject by encouraging the interviewee to elaborate on their initial responses.

Clarifying questions: Questions aimed at ensuring understanding by asking the interviewee to explain or elaborate on a particular point.