noun a question that is asked in a challenging or confrontational manner, often used in a legal or investigative context
In a courtroom setting, a cross question is a question posed by one party to a witness called by the opposing party, typically to test the credibility of the witness or to challenge their testimony.
In journalism, cross questioning refers to the practice of asking probing or challenging questions to a source or interviewee in order to gather more information or to uncover inconsistencies.
In debates, participants may engage in cross questioning to challenge each other's arguments, point out flaws in reasoning, or expose weaknesses in the opponent's position.
During interviews, cross questioning may be used to dig deeper into a respondent's answers, clarify ambiguous points, or challenge their statements.
In the context of writing, 'cross question' may refer to a technique used in interviewing subjects for a story to probe deeper into their responses and uncover additional information.
Psychologists may use 'cross question' during therapy sessions to challenge clients' beliefs or thoughts, encouraging them to consider different perspectives and gain insight into their behaviors.
Lawyers may use 'cross question' during cross-examination in court to challenge the credibility of witnesses or expose inconsistencies in their testimonies.
Journalists may use 'cross question' during interviews with public figures to push back on evasive or unclear answers and hold them accountable for their statements.
Researchers may use 'cross question' during data analysis to critically evaluate the results and consider alternative explanations for their findings.