Which Question, When and Why? – A Qualitative-Linguistic Programmatic to Analyze Question Sequences as a Principal Change Practice in Coaching

• Main Authors: Eva-Maria Graf, Thomas Spranz-Fogasy
• Format: Article
• Language: deu
• Published: SpringerOpen 2018-01-01
• Series: Coaching | Theorie & Praxis
• Subjects: Question-sequences; coaching conversation; Sequential co-construction; Efficiency; Conversation analysis; Interprofessionality
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1365/s40896-018-0021-4
• ISSN: 2364-5148

Abstract Questions symbolize an important, if not the most important intervention tool in coaching according to the coaching literature and training manuals. Despite such claimed omnipresence and omnirelevance in coaching theory, there are hardly any empirical findings to back up such claims. Neither in quantitatively operating psychological effectiveness-research nor in qualitatively operating linguistic or psychological process-research on coaching questions have received much empirical attention. It is vital to close this research gap via a cooperation between coaching practice and relevant disciplines and methods. In a first preliminary step, this programmatic paper establishes “questions in coaching” as a proper research object in conversation analysis. Questions are discussed in their formal and functional dimensions as well as an institution-specific social practice. Conversation-analytic findings from surrounding professional formats such as psychotherapy or doctor-patient interaction serve as points of orientation. The linguistic and CA discussion focusses on the impact of question-sequences on change and thus on the efficiency of coaching. The article ends with a critical evaluation of a conversation analytic approach to question sequences in coaching and sketches out the added value (for the coaching practice) of an interprofessional and interdisciplinary research that draws on coaching theory as well as linguistic and psychological methods and theories.