Questioning and Positing Problems

One of the distinguishing characteristics between humans and other forms of life is our inclination, and ability to FIND problems to solve. Effective problem solvers know how to ask questions to fill in the gaps between what they know and what they don't know. Effective questioners are inclined to ask a range of questions. For example: requests for data to support others' conclusions and assumptions—such questions as, "What evidence do you have.....?" "How do you know that's true?" "How reliable is this data source?" They pose questions about alternative points of view: "From whose viewpoint are we seeing, reading of hearing?" "From what angle, what perspective are we viewing this situation?" Students pose questions, which make causal connections and relationships: "How are these people (events) (situations) related to each other?" "What produced this connection?" They pose hypothetical problems characterized by "iffy"-type questions: "What do you think would happen IF.....?" "IF that is true, then what might happen if....?"