• Goals
  • Describe inquiry questions.
  • Skillfully apply inquiry questions to (a) presenting information, and (b) getting information, (c) teaching, (d) managing, and so on.

Inquiry Questions (What)

The inquiry questions are a set of question categories that cover most of the questions that people ask when they are wanting useful information in the context of doing research, making decisions, solving problems, doing projects, keeping up with current events, or engaging in any information seeking activity.

Rationale

Learning how to ask inquiry questions and find answers is worthwhile for several reasons.

1. Get high quality information about any topic.

2. Focus information search on what is most important.

3. Skilled application of inquiry question is useful for learning, problem solving, figuring things out, and so on.

The 5H2W Categories

Seven categories of inquiry questions are listed next. These categories are sometimes called the 5W2H questions because five of the categories begin with the letter “W” and two with the letter “H.”

1. What?
   1. What happened?
   2. What does this mean?
   3. What is this?
2. Why?
   1. Why did this happen?
   2. Why care?
   3. Why is this worthwhile?
   4. Why learn this?
   5. Why do this?
   6. Why should I believe this?
3. How?
   1. How did this happen?
   2. How does a chain saw work?
   3. How do I use a chain saw?
4. Who?
   1. Who can I ask?
   2. Who is responsible?
   3. Who knows about this?
5. When?
   1. When did this happen?
   2. When can I expect this?
6. Where?
   1. Where did this happen?
   2. Where do it go?
   3. Where can I find hazel nuts?
7. How much?
   1. How much time will this take?
   2. How much will this cost?
   3. How much frustration is involved.

Categories (cats)

Source: Info in this section from ChatGPT

1. Who? - This category aims to identify the individuals or groups involved in the subject under investigation. It seeks to determine the relevant actors or stakeholders and understand their roles, responsibilities, and relationships.

2. What? - The category “What?” seeks to define the core issue or event being examined. It aims to identify the specific actions, circumstances, or factors that are central to the topic. By determining the nature of the subject, it helps establish the context for further analysis.

3. When? - This category focuses on the timeline or timeframe of the subject. It seeks to determine when the event occurred, when it will happen, or the duration of a particular activity. Establishing the temporal aspects is crucial for understanding the sequence of events and any time-related dependencies.

4. Where? - The question “Where?” addresses the location or place associated with the subject. It seeks to pinpoint the geographical or physical setting where the event takes place, or where the problem exists. Identifying the specific location helps provide context and can be essential for analyzing factors related to the environment.

5. Why? - This question aims to determine the underlying reasons, causes, or motivations behind the subject. It seeks to understand the purpose, intentions, or driving forces that explain why something is happening or why a particular decision was made. Analyzing the “why” can shed light on the factors influencing the subject.

6. How? - The question “How?” focuses on the methods, processes, or mechanisms by which something is accomplished or executed. It aims to uncover the practical steps, strategies, or approaches used to achieve a particular outcome. Understanding the “how” is crucial for devising solutions, replicating successes, or identifying areas for improvement.

7. How Much? The question “How much?” can be added to determine the quantity, extent, or scale associated with the subject. This question is particularly useful when dealing with measurable aspects such as costs, quantities, or statistics.

By systematically addressing these questions, the 5W2H framework helps to ensure a thorough analysis and a comprehensive understanding of a given topic or situation.

Examples

Chemistry

Source: Info in this subsection came from ChatGPT

Here are 10 examples of each type of question as they apply to chemistry topics:

1. What:
   1. What is the atomic number of carbon?
   2. What are the properties of a covalent bond?
   3. What is the molecular formula of water?
   4. What are the different states of matter?
   5. What are the main components of a chemical reaction?
   6. What is the structure of an amino acid?
   7. What is the periodic table used for in chemistry?
   8. What are the characteristics of an acid?
   9. What is the purpose of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?
   10. What is the Bohr model of the atom?
2. Why:
   1. Why do elements in the same group of the periodic table have similar properties?
   2. Why does water have a high specific heat capacity?
   3. Why is the octet rule significant in chemical bonding?
   4. Why is carbon considered the backbone of organic compounds?
   5. Why do some substances dissolve in water while others do not?
   6. Why are enzymes essential for biological processes?
   7. Why does an acid-base reaction produce a salt and water?
   8. Why is the boiling point of a liquid affected by altitude?
   9. Why are noble gases unreactive?
   10. Why is the conservation of mass a fundamental principle in chemical reactions?
3. How:
   1. How do you balance a chemical equation?
   2. How does a catalyst speed up a reaction without being consumed?
   3. How do you calculate the molarity of a solution?
   4. How does the pH scale measure acidity and alkalinity?
   5. How does chromatography separate mixtures of substances?
   6. How do you determine the empirical formula of a compound?
   7. How does a calorimeter measure the heat of a reaction?
   8. How do you predict the shape of a molecule using VSEPR theory?
   9. How does distillation separate components in a mixture based on boiling points?
   10. How does a redox reaction involve the transfer of electrons?
4. Who:
   1. Who discovered the electron?
   2. Who are some notable chemists who contributed to the development of the periodic table?
   3. Who received the Nobel Prize for the discovery of penicillin?
   4. Who are the scientists credited with proposing the structure of DNA?
   5. Who is known for their contributions to the study of quantum mechanics?
   6. Who are some famous female chemists throughout history?
   7. Who first proposed the concept of atomic orbitals?
   8. Who identified the first noble gas element?
   9. Who are the scientists associated with the development of the modern atomic model?
   10. Who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in the most recent year?
5. How much:
   1. How much energy is released in a combustion reaction?
   2. How much heat is required to raise the temperature of a substance by a certain amount?
   3. How much mass is contained in a specific number of moles of a compound?
   4. How much volume does a certain amount of gas occupy at a given temperature and pressure?
   5. How much solute is needed to prepare a certain concentration of a solution?
   6. How much pressure is exerted by a gas confined in a container of a particular volume?
   7. How much energy is required to break a particular chemical bond?
   8. How much heat is evolved or absorbed during a specific chemical reaction?
   9. How much product can be obtained from a given amount of reactants in a stoichiometric reaction?
   10. How much does the atomic mass of an element change with the addition of an isotope?
6. Where:
   1. Where do metals appear on the periodic table?
   2. Where are valence electrons located in an atom?
   3. Where can you find transition metals in the periodic table?
   4. Where is the pH scale on a pH indicator?
   5. Where does the process of photosynthesis occur in plants?
   6. Where can you find examples of ionic compounds in daily life?
   7. Where do chemical reactions occur within a cell?
   8. Where can you find the activation energy on an energy profile diagram?
   9. Where are halogens located on the periodic table?
   10. Where can you find examples of exothermic reactions in nature?
7. When:
   1. When was the concept of the mole introduced in chemistry?
   2. When does a chemical equilibrium occur in a reversible reaction?
   3. When was the periodic table first published?
   4. When does a catalyst start to accelerate a chemical reaction?
   5. When is the ideal gas law applicable?
   6. When do chemical reactions reach completion?
   7. When can you use the Ideal Gas Law to calculate the volume of a gas?
   8. When does a chemical reaction occur spontaneously?
   9. When does the melting point of a substance change with pressure?
   10. When was the discovery of the first synthetic polymer?

These chemistry-related questions cover a range of topics and encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the context of chemical principles and phenomena.

Vaccines

Source: ChatGPT wrote the following for me.

The 5W2H inquiry questions are super useful for enhancing learning and understanding. For instance, let’s consider an individual who wishes to deepen their knowledge of vaccines. They can utilize the seven categories of 5W2H and jot down relevant questions in each category.

Here are some illustrative examples of inquiry questions for the topic:

1. What?

• What is the definition of a vaccine?
• What are the different types of vaccines available?
• What are some common side effects associated with vaccines?

2. Why?

• Why is there a controversial debate surrounding vaccines?
• Why haven’t vaccines been developed for certain types of cancer?

3. How?

• How do vaccines work, and what is the underlying mechanism of their action?
• How are vaccines developed and tested before approval?
• How is the concept of a vaccine defined within the medical community?
• How are vaccines tested? How good are these tests?

4. How much?

• How much do vaccines typically cost, and are they affordable for all populations?

5. Where?

• Where are vaccines usually manufactured and developed?
• Where is vaccine usage most prevalent

6. Who?

• Who is recommended or eligible to receive specific vaccines?

By utilizing these inquiry questions, individuals can delve deeper into the topic of vaccines, gain a comprehensive understanding, and make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being.

Inquiry Questions in Context

Not all questions are inquiry questions. This following questions classification scheme lists some other types. Each category is used for a purpose.

1. Inquiry, also known as open-ended questions: These questions encourage detailed and thoughtful responses and allow for free-form answers. They typically begin with “who,” “what,” “why,” “when,” “where,” “how,” or “how much.”

2. Requests: These questions involve one person asking another for something or seeking their assistance. Examples include “Will you?” “Can you?” or “Would you be able to?”

3. Predictions: These questions involve speculating about the future or outcomes. Examples are “Will this work?” or “Who will win the next Super Bowl?”

4. Leading Questions: Phrased in a way that suggests a particular answer, potentially influencing the respondent’s response. For instance, “Can the mainstream media be trusted?” when the person asking the question asserts that “the media cannot be trusted.”

5. Rhetorical Questions: Asked for dramatic effect or to make a point, these questions do not expect a literal response.

6. Hypothetical Questions: These questions present imaginary scenarios to explore possibilities and hypothetical outcomes. For example, “What would you do if you won the lottery?”

7. Loaded Questions: These questions are designed to provoke an emotional response or create controversy.

8. Opinion Questions: These questions seek the respondent’s subjective viewpoint or personal judgment on a matter. Examples are “What is your favorite movie?” or “Do you think technology has improved our lives?”

Effective communication and effective thinking involves matching the question category to a purpose. These categories provide a structure for organizing this endeavor.