Progressive Questioning

Progressive questioning is a technique for fully exploring a topic by asking a series of related questions. There are several progressive questioning techniques designed to fit different situations.

• Using 5 Whys helps a group find the root cause of a problem.
• When conducting discovery for a new product or project, interviewers will ask questions that try to find the underlying values and needs behind a request.
• Educators, engineers, and psychiatrists use the Socratic questioning technique to enhance critical thinking.
• The Squid helps a group explore a space, responding in a series of answers and new questions until they’ve all shared everything they wonder about and collectively know on a topic.