The Psychology of Questions

Book excerpt: Originally published in 1985, the chapters in this volume collectively approach the phenomenon of questioning from many perspectives. There are studies on question comprehension, question answering, question asking and the influence of adjunct questions on text comprehension and memory. The chapters cover different theories, models, methods, and practical applications. Some contributors focus exclusively on adult subjects, whereas other examine cognitive development in children. The earlier chapters in the book have a "pure science" emphasis, whereas the later chapters have an "applied" emphasis. Of course, the distinction between science and application had, in the editors’ words, become "very fuzzy" in the years prior to publication.