What is a Provocative Question?
A provocative question is a type of question that is meant to provoke but only because it aims to challenge and discard any conventional ideas or concepts off balance. It paves the way for skepticism, doubts, and disbelief. Because of this, such type of questioning may cause a debate. Basically, when you are provoking a person, you try to question the values and logic behind the concept or issue, and sometimes may have emotional content on them. The person being asked then becomes defensive and tries to argue against it. These questions may either elicit closed responses or stir up an argument. An example is, “So, you mean to say that child labor is acceptable?” You hear a lot of provoking questions being asked during political debates, with each political party trying to uncover each other’s hidden agenda. On the other hand, provocative questions may be an effective technique to encourage people to analyze more deeply about an issue or concept. When you are provoked, you are bound to
