unprompted question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unprompted question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a question that is asked without any prior prompting or encouragement from others. Example: "During the meeting, she raised an unprompted question that caught everyone off guard."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Each unprompted question had a differing number of potential correct answers and respondents were allowed to give more than one answer.

Plosone

Campaign exposure was measured by an unprompted question of whether respondents had heard about the CHI scheme or not.

Global Health Action

Awareness of warning signs and symptoms was assessed first using an unprompted question to test symptom recall ('There are many warning signs and symptoms of cancer. Please name as many as you can think of').

British Journal of Cancer

An event was coded as a spontaneous student question when a student asked an instructor an unprompted question or was only very generally prompted: "Does anyone have a question?" Volunteer responses were characterized by students raising their hands or shouting out answers of their own volition in response to instructor questions.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Unprompted questions were used in this setting to measure recall as a more stringent and accurate measure of knowledge [33].

Plosone

The differences in answering unprompted questions (recall) compared to prompted (recognition) are well recognized and in general, response levels for prompted questions are higher, but less accurate [33], [34], [35].

Plosone

Women's knowledge of malaria was assessed by asking unprompted questions about the cause of malaria, signs and symptoms of malaria infection, signs and symptoms to suggest severe malaria, and ways to prevent malaria.

Plosone

Among providers who reported ever not recommending zinc (n = 242), we asked unprompted questions about why.

Global health, science and practice

Using prompted and unprompted questions in the same study illustrates the variation that may be obtained by these approaches.

BMJ Open

In other settings, KAP studies have variably used prompted 33394757 57 or unprompted questions, 16 31 38 while some studies used both.

BMJ Open

32 Although the accuracy of prompted versus unprompted questions in knowledge assessment has been a topic of debate, prompted questions confer a higher level of knowledge.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When contrasting with prompted questions, "unprompted question" helps to distinguish between recall and recognition in knowledge assessments. Use it to clarify the methodology of your research or analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "unprompted" when you mean "unprompted by". "Unprompted" describes the question itself, while "unprompted by" describes the person asking the question, emphasizing that they did so without external influence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unprompted question" functions as a noun phrase where "unprompted" modifies "question". It describes a type of inquiry that arises spontaneously, without external cues or suggestions. Ludwig examples highlight its use in research methodologies and general discourse.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unprompted question" is a grammatically correct and usable term in written English, albeit relatively rare in occurrence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies a question asked without prior prompting, emphasizing its spontaneous nature. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related content, the phrase serves to highlight the origin and intent behind an inquiry, often contrasting it with prompted or cued questions. When employing this phrase, it's important to differentiate it from "unprompted by", which refers to the person asking the question. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "spontaneous question" or "unsolicited question", depending on the specific context you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Spontaneous question

Emphasizes the sudden and unplanned nature of the question.

Unsolicited question

Highlights that the question was offered without being requested.

Voluntary question

Stresses the willingness of the person to ask the question without coercion.

Self-generated question

Focuses on the question originating from the individual's own thoughts.

Freely asked question

Indicates the absence of constraints or pressure when asking the question.

Unasked-for question

Similar to unsolicited, emphasizing that the question wasn't requested or desired.

Involuntary question

Suggests the question arose almost instinctively or without conscious prompting.

Impulsive question

Highlights the sudden and potentially rash nature of asking the question.

Off-the-cuff question

Emphasizes the informal and unprepared nature of the question.

Extemporaneous question

Highlights that the question was formulated on the spot, without prior preparation.

FAQs

How is an "unprompted question" different from a prompted one?

An "unprompted question" is asked without any prior suggestion or cue, reflecting genuine curiosity or knowledge recall. A prompted question, conversely, is asked in response to a direct suggestion or cue, which can influence the answer.

When is it appropriate to use the term "unprompted question" in research?

It's appropriate when describing data collection methods where participants are asked open-ended questions to assess their spontaneous recall or awareness of a topic. This is often contrasted with methods using prompted questions to gauge recognition.

What are some alternatives to using "unprompted question"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "spontaneous question", "unsolicited question", or "voluntary question" to convey a similar meaning.

Why might responses to "unprompted questions" differ from those to prompted questions?

Responses to "unprompted questions" typically reflect a deeper level of knowledge or awareness, as they require spontaneous recall. Prompted questions, on the other hand, may elicit higher response rates but can be less accurate due to recognition bias. Using prompted and unprompted question types depends on the research goal.