I want to collect inputs from others by getting to the heart of what motivates people.

Question Ladder


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INSPIRED BY : Project Innovation (2012) Question. In: Social Innovation Toolkit.


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What is it & why should I do it?


How do you know the right question to ask? Sometimes reaching the right answer means thinking more about the kind of questions you’re asking. It might sound simple, but focusing on what you’re asking someone is essential for reaching a deeper understanding. ‘Laddering’ is an interview technique that helps you to hone in on a certain topic by asking a series of questions about different aspects related to that topic.


The Question Ladder tool is a quick and easy way to start asking your questions in a few different ways, and to start combining questions in order to reach more complex answers. It provides a structured overview of what goes in to a question; it shows how to combine a range of who, what, where, when, why and how questions coupled with the words like is, did, can, will, would and might. This makes it much easier to think about the best way to get to the heart of the issue at hand, and to build chains of questions that will allow you to gradually reach the heart of more complex issues.


How do I use it?


While making a questionnaire or before going for an interview, this worksheet can be used as a series of possible questions from which a final set can be chosen. Use this to practice approaching and exploring an issue through various directions.


Once you have gained some experience with using this technique, you might find yourself automatically using it in conversations or interviews you conduct with people.

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Latest User Experience

  1. Smitha7

    User Rating: 5

    It’ll also save a lot of cash and time for those on a restricted budget who cgedbddakfaaagac


  2. Ginni Hill

    Colorado Springs Conservatory

    User Rating: 5

    What a fun tool!


  3. Mitali Pinto


    User Rating: 4

    Very useful tool, extremely practical for conducting day-to-day conversations to keep it interesting.


  4. Mukti Chakrabarti

    Rahara Abhikshan

    User Rating: 5

    It is a very useful tool to learn hoe to conduct conversation with the people around us.


  5. Sneha Mishra


    User Rating: 5

    The question ladder is a great tool to focus on helping to get the desired goal.


  6. Pamela Ateka

    Community Focus Group (CFG)

    User Rating: 5

    This has helped me create various ways to frame possible questions, helpful, for my work and day to day life