The Question: Colorful Conversation Starters (1999). By Carla Ketter & Jackie Hesse. Thinking Publications, 424 Galloway St., Eau Claire, WI 54703. 200 cards and 23-page manual, $39/USA, $62/CAN. Reviewed by Monique S. Kaye, Watchung, NJ.
The Question is a collection of insightful questions designed to initiate conversation. The set contains 200 (4¾" x 3") durable, colorful cards. A 23-page manual accompanies the cards providing theory and direction for the clinician. The questions are theoretically based on Bloom's (1956) Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain, briefly described in the manual.
The rationale is well defined by the authors. This product provides good, clear directions and is particularly useful to a novice clinician who may need specific guidelines. It also offers suggestions on how to obtain greater participation from a shy or passive person in this activity. The Question can be easily used with adolescents and adults, and the questions can be considered non-threatening. Some examples of these questions are, "What is the silliest thing you've ever done in public?," "What is your most prized possession?," "For what reasons do you choose your friends?" Some questions (such as, "Do you ever make up words?") may require further interrogation by the clinician as mentioned by the authors in the manual; otherwise, clients could simply indicate yes or no without further explanation. The large print is easy to read and is especially helpful for clientele who are visually challenged. These cards can be used with clients with a variety of communication disorders or as a supplement for carry-over with the accent reduction population. A list of references is provided; however, more references would have been useful to the clinician who may want to expand his or her knowledge of social communication skills. Moreover, it would have been of special interest if the authors provided case studies or outcomes from their clinical experiences, particularly in the age of treatment justification and providing outcomes to third-party payers.
During this reviewer's field testing, clients found these questions to be fun and entertaining. It was particularly useful for carry-over skills for a variety of communication disorders such as dysarthria, apraxia, aphasia, and cognitive-communication impairment. These questions were versatile and could easily be used in individual and group settings. Many of the stimuli helped elicit creative thinking processes.
The Question could easily be used in a variety of settings such as homes, schools, hospitals, clinics, and residential programs. It can help increase social dynamics within the treatment arena. Its many uses are boundary-free and would make an excellent addition to a clinician's collection of treatment materials.