It is the skilled use of disciplined, open-ended questioning to clarify ideas, test assumptions, examine evidence, consider alternatives, and trace consequences instead of simply giving conclusions.

Its goal is to deepen understanding through dialogue by helping a person uncover the strengths, gaps, and complexity in their own thinking.

Open-ended questions push people beyond yes-or-no answers and invite explanation, reasoning, and reflection.

A clarification question asks someone to restate or sharpen their meaning, such as asking what they mean or what the main issue is.

It probes what a person is taking for granted and asks whether those assumptions can be verified, challenged, or replaced.

Strong Socratic dialogue asks for reasons, examples, and support so that claims rest on evidence rather than confidence alone.