Skip to main content
Log in

A critical review of research on questioning in education: limitations of its positivistic basis

  • Articles and Reports
  • Published:
Asia Pacific Education Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In spite of its prevalence and importance, questioning in education has been underestimated and misconceptualized. The major reason for this has been that most studies on questioning have been heavily dependent on the paradigm of positivism. The present study critiques the limitations of those studies on four specific issues: 1) the narrow conceptualization of the purpose of teacher’s questioning, 2) the unwarranted assumption that objectively effective types of questions exist, 3) the assumption that the meaning of the text is explicit and fixed, and 4) the belief that the learner’s question functions as a means for external ends.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aleksic, Maja (2003). Adjunct questions as aids to effective illustration processing. Doctoral dissertation, The Pennsylvania state university.

  • Andre, M. E. D. A., & Anderson, T. H. (1978–1979). The development and evaluation of a self-questioning study technique.Reading Research Quarterly, 14, 605–623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andre, T. (1990). Type of inserted questions and the study post-test delay.Journal of experimental Education, 58, 77–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andre, T., & Thieman, A. (1988). Level of adjunct question, type of feedback, and learning concepts by reading.Contemporary Educational Psychology, 13(3), 296–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armbruster, B. B., & Anderson, T. H. (1981). Research synthesis on study skills.Educational leadership, 39(2), 154–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atwood, V., & Wilen, W. (1991). Wait time and effective social studies instruction: what can research in science education tell us?Social Education, 55, 179–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, D., & Todd, F. (1995).Communication and learning revisited: making learning through talk. Portsmouth: Boynton/ Cook publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benton, S. L., & Blohm, P. J. (1986). Effect of question type and position on measures of conceptual elaboration in writing.Research in the teaching of English, 20(1), 98–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, R.J.(1983).Beyond objectivism and relativism: science, hermeneutics, and praxis. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom, B. S. (1956).Taxonomy of educational objectives. New York: David Mckay company, inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan, L. K. S. (1991). Promoting strategy generalization through self instructional training in students with reading disabilities.Journal of Learning Disabilities, 24, 421–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davey, B., & Mcbride, S. (1986). Effects of question-generation training on reading comprehension.Journal of Educational Psychology, 78, 256–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickerson, C. T. (1987). The effects of adjunct questions on learning from text inconsistent with prior knowledge.Dissertation Abstracts. (UMI No. AAC 8804837).

  • Dillon, J. T. (1988). Levels of problem finding versus problem solving.Questioning Exchange: Multidisciplinary review, 2(2), 105–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillon, J. T. (1990).The practice of questioning. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, J. A. (1992). Deep and surface processing in learning from text among baccalaureate nursing students.Dissertation Abstracts .(UMI No.AAC MM76354).

  • Gadamer, H. G. (1975).Truth and method. New York: Seabury press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gall, M. D. (1984). Synthesis of research on teachers’ questioning.Educational Leadership, November, 40-47.

  • Glasersfeld, E. von (1995).Radical constructivism: A way of knowing and learning. London: The Falmer press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Good, T. L., & Brophy, J. (2000).Looking in classrooms. (8th ed.). New York: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graves, A. W., & Levin, J. R. (1989). Comparison of monitoring and mnemonic text-processing strategies in learning disabled students.Learning Disability Quarterly, 12, 232–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamaker, C. (1986). The effects of adjunct questions on prose learning.Review of Educational Research, 56(2), 212–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, N. R. (1958).Patterns of discovery: An inquiry into the conceptual foundations of science. Cambridge: Cambridge university press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawa, H. D. M. (1980). A study to investigate the effects of wait-time and questioning strategies on the oral language behaviors of teachers and students during children’s literature discussions in language arts. Doctoral dissertation, Pennsylvania state university.

  • King, A. (1992). Comparison of self-questioning, summarizing, and notetaking - review as strategies for learning from lectures.American Education Research Journal, 29, 303–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, T. S. (1970).The structure of scientific revolutions (2nd ed.). Chicago and London: The university of Chicago press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H. W. (1991).The concepts of education. Seoul: Muneum press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malone, L. D., & Mastropieri, M. A. (1992). Reading comprehension instruction: summarization and self-monitoring training for students with learning disabilities.Exceptional Children, 58, 270–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marzola, E. S. (1988–1989). Interrogating the text: Questioning strategies designed to improve reading comprehension.Journal of Reading, Writing and Learning Disabilities International, 4(4), 243–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh, M. E., & Draper, R. J. (1996). Using the question- answer relationship strategy to improve student’s reading of mathematics texts.Clearing House, 69(3), 154–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, M. (1983).Meaning and reading: A philosophical essay on language and literature. Amsterdam: John Benjamins publishing company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newmann, F. (1992). Higher order thinking and prospects for classroom thoughtfulness. In F. Newmann (Ed.),Student engagement and achievement in American secondary schools. New York: Teachers College press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nibet, J., & Shucksmith, J. (1986).Learning strategies. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolan, T. E. (1991). Self-questioning and prediction: Combining metacognitive strategies.Journal of Reading, 35, 132- 138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palinscar, A. S. (1982). Improving the reading comprehension of junior high students through reciprocal teaching of comprehension-monitoring strategies. Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois.

  • Perry, M., Vanderstoep, S., & Yu, S. L. (1993). Asking questions in first grade mathematics classes: Potential influences on mathematical thought.Journal of Educational Psychology, 85, 31–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, N., & Duke, M. (2001). The questioning skills of clinical teachers and preceptors: a comparative study.Journal of Advanced Nursing, 33(4), 523–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piaget, J.(1972).The child’s conception of the world. New Jersey: Littlefield, Adams & co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pi-Sui-Hsu, & Dwyer, F. (2004). Effect of level of adjunct questions on achievement of field independent/field dependent learners.International Journal of Instructional Media, 37(1), 99–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pressley, M., Wood, E., Woloshyn, V. E., Martin, V., King, A., & Menke, D. (1992). Encouraging mindful use of prior knowledge: Attempting to construct explanatory answers facilitates learning.Educational Psychologist, 27, 91–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Redfield, D. L., & Rousseau, E. W. (1981). A meta-analysis of experimental research on teacher questioning behavior.Review of Educational Research, 51(2), 237–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinking, D. et als. (1996). The effects of inserted questions and mandatory review in computer-mediated texts. Reading research report No. 50 (ED 394138)

  • Rickards, J. P., & Di Vesta, F. J.(1974). Type and frequency of questions in processing textual material.Journal of Educational Psychology, 66(3), 354–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rorty, R. (1979).Philosophy and the mirror of nature. Princeton University press.

  • Rowan, T. E., & Robles, J. (1998). Using questions to help children build mathematical power.Teaching Children Mathematics, 4, 504–509.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, M. (1986). Wait time: slowing down may be a way of speeding up.Journal of Teacher Education, 37, 43–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samson, G. E., Strykowski B., Weinstein, T., & Walberg, H. J. (1987). The effects of teacher questioning levels on student achievement: A quantitative synthesis.The Journal of Educational Research, 80, 290–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, N. M.(1966).Classroom questions: what kinds? New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwab, J. J. (1969). Learning as enquiring. In D. Vandenberg (Ed.),Teaching and learning (pp. 32–38). Urbana: University of Illinois press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sellappah S., Hussey T., Blackmore A. M., & McMurray A. (1998). The use of questioning strategies by clinical teachers.Journal of Advanced Nursing, 28, 142–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shiang, C. P., & Mcdaniel, E. (1989). The effects of questioning on thinking processes.Clearing House (ED 310131).

  • Smilansky, J. (1984). Problem solving and the quality of invention.Journal of Educational Psychology, 76, 377–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, H.,& Donlan, D. (1982). Active comprehension: Problem-solving schema with question generation for comprehension of complex short stories.Reading Research Quarterly, 17(2), 166–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephanie, S. A.(1982). A study of the relationship between teaching techniques and student’s achievement on high cognitive level question-asking skills(Doctoral dissertation, the university of Chicago, 1981).Dissertation Abstracts International, 42.

  • Sternberg, R. J., & Grigorenko, E.L. (2006).Dynamic Testing: The nature and measurement of learning potential. Cambridge university press.

  • Tayor, L. K., Alber, S. R., & Walker, D. W. (2002). The comparative effects of a modified self-questioning strategy and story mapping on the reading comprehension of elementary students with learning disabilities.Journal of Behavioral Education, 11(2), 69–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L.S. (1978).Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge: Harvard university press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, T., & Andre, T. (1991). Conceptual change text versus traditional text and application questions versus no questions in learning about electricity.Contemporary Educational Psychology, 16, 103–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westgate, D., & Hughes, M. (1997). Identifying quality in classroom talk: an enduring research task,Language and Education, 11(2), 125–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilen, W. W. (1992).Questions, questioning techniques, and effective teaching. National Education Association, Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wimer J. W., Ridenour, C. S., Thomas, K., & Place A. W. (2001). Higher order teacher questioning of boys and girls in elementary mathematics classrooms.The Journal of Educational Research, 95(2), 84–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winne, P. H. (1979). Experiments relating teachers’ use of higher cognitive questions to student achievement.Review of Educational Research, 49(1), 13–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, B. Y. L.. & Jones, W. (1982). Increasing metacomprehension in learning disabled and normally achieving students through self-questioning training.Learning Disability Quarterly, 5, 228–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, R. A. (1995). The effect of inserted and massed post adjunct questions with and without corrective feedback on improving the reading comprehension of learning disabled adolescents.Dissertation Abstracts. (UMI AAC 9525503).

  • Yang, M. K. (1986). Effect of the position and the level of questions inserted in prose learning material. Unpublished master’s thesis, Seoul National University, Korea.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, M. K. (1992). A critical review of research on questioning in terms of its significance and problems in education. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Seoul National University, Korea.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, M. K. (1995). A study of the educational conditions facilitating the learner’s question.Korean Journal of Educational Research, 33(1), 95–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, M. K. (2002). Exploring the characteristics of students’ questioning in class and their educational implications.Korean Journal of Educational Research, 40(1), 99–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz, N. P.(2003). The effect of the inserted questions on learning relating theoretical knowledge to the context.Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 3(2), 483–488.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mikyeong Yang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yang, M. A critical review of research on questioning in education: limitations of its positivistic basis. Asia Pacific Educ. Rev. 7, 195–204 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03031543

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03031543

Key words

Navigation