Describe how stacking questions is a common verbal barrier to communication faced by beginning social workers

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

In exploring problems, social workers should use facilitative questions that assist clients in revealing detailed information about specific problem areas. Asking multiple questions at the same time, or stacking questions, diffuses the focus and confuses clients. Stacking questions is a problem frequently encountered by beginning social workers, who may feel an urgent need to help clients by providing many options all at one time. Rather than focus on one question, clients often respond superficially and nonspecifically to the social worker's multiple inquiries, omitting important information in the process. Stacked questions thus have "low yield" and are unproductive and inefficient in gathering relevant information. Slowing down and asking one question at a time is preferable. If a social worker has asked stacked questions and the client hesitates in response, the social worker can correct the problem by repeating the preferred question.