question
Let an agent recognise and classify questions, explain how they are formed and answered, distinguish genuine information requests from rhetorical, loaded or complex questions, and apply good practice in asking and answering.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent recognise and classify questions, explain how they are formed and answered, distinguish genuine information requests from rhetorical, loaded or complex questions, and apply good practice in asking and answering.
An utterance or written form that requests information, confirmation or a decision from someone, marked in language by word order, particles, intonation or question words; questions are studied in linguistics and logic, structured in surveys, interviews and examinations, and are the basic unit of inquiry in research and of dialogue between people and agents.
What it is for: Requesting information, confirmation or decision.
It can be classify a question by type and intent; explain how questions are formed in a language; detect presuppositions and loaded questions; apply good practice for surveys and interviews.
Distinguishing features
Speech act of asking
Yes-no, alternative and open forms
Carries presuppositions
Answer type follows question type
What it looks like
A sentence with question form, often ending in a question mark in writing.
How it is recognised
Requests information or confirmation
Marked by question words, inversion, particles or intonation
A request for action and a rhetorical statement are different acts
Related models
is a kind of - the speech act
is answered by - the paired act
is studied by - form and meaning
is confused with - a request for action rather than information
In practice
Families and kinds
yes-no and alternative questions
wh or open questions
rhetorical questions
loaded and complex questions
research questions
survey and examination questions
Fermi and estimation questions
Standards and regulation
Survey methodology standards for question design
Rules of evidence on leading questions in courts
Examination and assessment standards
Failure modes and hazards
Leading and loaded questions biasing answers
Ambiguous questions
Answering the presupposition rather than the question
Mistaking rhetorical for genuine questions
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.question-2
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Form How questions are formed.
Language.
Grammar
Question formation.
Grammar
Grammar.
- How are questions formed in a given language, and what types exist? definition
- Is the utterance a question, a request or a rhetorical statement? boundary
Semantics
Meaning and answers.
Semantics
Semantics.
- What counts as an answer to each question type, and what does the question presuppose? definition
- Which entry fits pragmatics? action
Ask Asking well.
Practice.
Design
Question design.
Design
Design.
- How are survey, interview and examination questions designed to avoid bias and ambiguity? provenance
- Which entry fits survey methodology? action
Research
Research questions.
Research
Research.
- What makes a good research question, and how is it refined? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Answer Answering well.
Practice.
Understand
Understanding the question.
Understand
Understand.
- How does an agent identify the intent, scope and presuppositions of a question before answering? action
- Is the question loaded or complex, requiring the presupposition to be addressed? boundary
Respond
Responding.
Respond
Respond.
- What makes an answer complete, honest and appropriately scoped? action
- When should an agent ask a clarifying question instead? action
Study Theory and history.
Study.
Theory
Theories of questions.
Theory
Theory.
- How do logic, semantics and philosophy analyse questions, with positions attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits erotetic logic? action
Law
Questions in law.
Law
Law.
- How do courts regulate questioning, such as leading questions? provenance
- Which entry fits rules of evidence? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should question types be separate entries?
- How should survey design guidance be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases such as a police stop and a website; should they be split off?