Reverse questioning is a technique where a presenter or speaker responds to a question from an audience member by redirecting the same question back to that audience member, or to the broader audience.
Essentially, instead of providing an immediate answer, the presenter turns the inquiry around. This approach can be used for several reasons:
- To encourage active participation: It prompts the audience to think critically and engage with the subject matter.
- To gauge audience understanding: The presenter can assess how well the audience grasps the concepts by listening to their responses.
- To facilitate discussion: Reverse questioning can spark a conversation among audience members, leading to a more dynamic and collaborative learning environment.
- To address the question indirectly: Sometimes, the audience member may already possess the answer or be able to formulate it through reflection.
- To buy time: It can give the presenter a moment to consider a complex question before providing their own detailed response.
Example:
Imagine a presenter discussing the adaptations of desert plants. An audience member asks, "If cacti have no leaves, how do they carry out photosynthesis?"
A reverse questioning response might be: "That's an insightful question! Kathy, if cacti have no leaves, how do you think they manage to carry out photosynthesis?"
In this example, the presenter isn't avoiding the question. Instead, they're encouraging Kathy (or the broader audience) to share their thoughts and potentially arrive at the answer themselves, fostering a more engaging and thought-provoking session.
