2. Writing questions
Question stems are a good way of helping to improve your questions.
The stems below are useful in constructing good research questions.
Use these to modify your questions and see if you can improve them.
To what extent…?
How far…?
Whose responsibility is it…?
Should…?
Do the benefits of… outweigh the disadvantages?
What is more important…?
In what way does …?
What is the impact of…?

3. Divergent / Convergent Thinking

4. 8WAY THINKING
Approaching the
world with a wider
degree of curiosity,
because there is
more than one way
of looking at the
world!

6. Let’s try this now!
Group of 5 or fewer!
Choose a team rep (resource collection & will
communicate your team’s views)
Use laptop as a primary resource
Collect the stimulus word, paper and 8Way thinking
sheet from the front
Reps need to be concise and precise with their delivery
of information
You have ….

7. Stimuli
Hong Kong
The Olympics
Love
Music
Medicine
Steve Jobs
Computer Games
China
Chickens
Laptops in lessons
Owning guns
Charity
School uniform
Exams
The Peak
Justin Bieber
Laws
Typhoon
Summer
Revolution
HSBC
Flying
Community
Buddha
Internet
Iphone

8. Connected
Provocative
ChargedDeep
Open
Practical
?
Evaluating Questions

9. Connected
Provocative
ChargedDeep
Open
Practical
?
Evaluating Questions
Is the question relevant to you and your
interests?
Is it a question that others will find
interesting?
Will it prompt you to connect with other
students, professionals or organizations?

10. Connected
Provocative
ChargedDeep
Open
Practical
?
Evaluating Questions
Does the question challenge
assumptions? Does it demand that people
take fresh look at a familiar situation or
area?

11. Connected
Provocative
ChargedDeep
Open
Practical ?
Evaluating Questions
Can you research and answer the
question meaningfully given the
resources, time and ability level you have?

12. Connected
Provocative
ChargedDeep
Open
Practical
?
Evaluating Questions
Does the question challenge
assumptions? Does it demand that people
take fresh look at a familiar situation or
area?

13. Connected
Provocative
Deep
Open
Practical
?
Evaluating Questions
Does the question have an ethical
dimension? Will it involve the looking at
different perspectives and opposing
opinions?
Charged

14. Connected
Provocative
ChargedDeep
Open
Practical
?
Evaluating Questions
Can the question only be answered by
careful and lengthy research?
Do you need to break the question in to a
more sub-questions?

15. Problem solving:
You are being interviewed by Microsoft for an
important post in their Creative Department.
During the process you are asked the following
question…

16. Now!
You have one minute
On your own and in silence…
Come up with one question that relates to
today’s session!