hliðarspurningar

Hliðarspurningar means side questions in Icelandic. The term refers to supplementary questions posed alongside a central or main question to expand inquiry, clarify meaning, or explore related angles without changing the core topic.

Common contexts for hliðarspurningar are education, journalism, and research interviews. In the classroom, teachers use them to check understanding, stimulate critical thinking, or connect the topic to examples, causes, or consequences. In surveys and interviews, side questions help reveal motivations, processes, or alternatives that the main question alone might not uncover. They can also be used in media discussions to deepen analysis and broaden perspectives.

Characteristics of well-made hliðarspurningar include a tendency to be open-ended, encouraging elaboration rather than a simple yes or no answer. They are often sequenced after the main question or introduced to probe specific aspects such as context, rationale, effects, or future implications. Neutral phrasing is important to avoid guiding the respondent toward a particular conclusion, and the difficulty or scope of the questions should be appropriate to the respondent’s experience.

Example: Main question: "Hvað finnst þér um nýju reglurnar?" Side questions: "Hvaða áhrif hafa reglurnar á þitt daglega starf?"; "Hvaða gagnrýni hefur þú heyrt frá öðrum?"; "Hvaða breytingar myndir þú vilja sjá næst?"

Limitations include the potential for bias if side questions are leading or for overloading respondents, which can derail conversation. When used thoughtfully, however, hliðarspurningar enrich understanding by illuminating context, rationale, and nuances beyond the main question.