Neutral Questioning: A Sense-Making Technique for Reference Interview

中立式提問法乃奠基於Brenda Dervin意義建構理論的參考晤談方法，強調開放提問、自由表述、但提問內容應聚焦於問題情境、認知缺口、及資訊使用等三大面向。本文介紹其實施方式及原則，包含提問重點、例句形式、提問順序與措辭、建立晤談脈絡並溝通意圖、以及維持問句開放性等原則。本文並歸納文獻說法與相關研究發現，探討該法的應用優勢及若干使用疑慮，期能協助國內參考館員了解該法，對參考晤談實務有所助益。
Neutral questioning is a reference interview technique based on Brenda Dervin’s sense-making theory. Open in form, the technique enables the interviewee (the library patron) to freely express his/her information need. But it also allows the interviewer (the reference librarian) to remain in control of the conversation by focusing on the three elements constituting the process of information seeking and information use: “situation,” “gap,” and “use.” This article introduces the principles and applications of the technique and discusses its strengths and limitations for reference practices. This study calls for further theoretical and empirical research into the technique.