title: The Effect of Solution-Focused Versus Problem-Focused Questions: A Replication.
abstract: In therapeutic conversations, questions can be considered as interventions in their own right. This study is a cross-cultural replication of Grant (Journal of Systemic Therapies, 2012, 31, 2, 21) study on the effects of different types of questions on various clinically relevant variables. A total of 204 students of a Spanish university described a real-life problem that they wanted to solve and were then randomly assigned to either a solution-focused or a problem-focused questions condition. Before and after answering the questions, they completed a set of measures that assessed positive and negative affect, self-efficacy, and goal attainment. Solution-focused questions produced a significantly greater increase in self-efficacy, goal approach, and action steps than problem-focused questions, and a significantly greater decrease in negative affect, providing further empirical support to solution-focused practices.
authors.affiliation: University of Miguel Hernandez of Elche.
authors.forename: Marie-Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Neipp
authors.affiliation: Public University of Navarra.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beyebach
authors.affiliation: University of Miguel Hernandez of Elche.
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.affiliation: University of Miguel Hernandez of Elche.
authors.forename: Marie-Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Martínez-González
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult