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Socratic Questioning

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Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning

Synonyms

Socratic cross-examination; Socratic disputation; Socratic education; Socratic elenchus; Socratic framework; Socratic interrogation; Socratic irony; Socratic method; Socratic practices; Socratic rhetoric; Socratic teaching; Socratic techniques

Definition

Socratic Questioning is a dialectical method of inquiry and debate by means of a carefully constructed series of leading questions to arrive at logical responses and to stimulate rational thinking. Socratic Questioning involves the use of systematic questioning, inductive reasoning, universal definitions, and a disavowal of knowledge (Carey and Mullan 2004). Socratic Questioning refers to a procedure in which people attempt to change others’ minds, as well as a process that allows people to change their own minds (Carey and Mullan 2004). Socratic Questioning is defined as “the dialectical method supposedly employed by the historical Socrates, and displayed in Plato’s earlier dialogues… the teacher should by patient...

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References

  • Carey, T. A., & Mullan, R. J. (2004). What is Socratic questioning? Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 41(3), 217–226.

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  • Ellerman, D., Denning, S., & Hanna, N. (2001). Active learning and development assistance. Journal of Knowledge Management, 5(2), 173–179.

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  • Neenan, M. (2009). Using Socratic questioning in coaching. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 27(4), 249–264.

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  • Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2007). Critical thinking: The art of Socratic questioning, Part II. Journal of Developmental Education, 31(1), 36–37.

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  • Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2008). Critical thinking: The art of Socratic questioning, Part III. Journal of Developmental Education, 31(3), 36–37.

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  • Rhee, R. J. (2007). The Socratic method and the mathematical heuristic of George Polya. St. John’s Law Review, 81, 881–898.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Individual and Academic Development (CIAD), Sabanci University, Orhanli, Tuzla, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey

    Dr. Aytac Gogus

Authors
  1. Dr. Aytac Gogus
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Correspondence to Aytac Gogus .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Economics and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Education, University of Freiburg, 79085, Freiburg, Germany

    Norbert M. Seel

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Gogus, A. (2012). Socratic Questioning. In: Seel, N.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_492

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_492

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1427-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1428-6

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