Which interviewing approach best supports gathering accurate information while minimizing retraumatization?

• A. Use open-ended questions.
• B. Use leading questions.
• C. Interrupt frequently.
• D. Rush to conclusions.

Answer: (A)

Open-ended questions. They let the survivor tell the story in their own words, which tends to yield richer, more accurate information than questions that cue a specific answer. By inviting narration and avoiding prescriptive prompts, you reduce suggestion and bias, making it easier for the person to describe what happened without feeling steered toward a certain detail or interpretation.

This approach also supports a trauma-informed way of interviewing. It gives space for pauses, allows the survivor to disclose at a comfortable pace, and helps build trust, all of which contribute to less retraumatization and more honest, complete information.

Leading questions push a particular answer, which can bias memory and increase distress or mistrust. Interrupting frequently breaks the narrative flow and signals impatience, harming safety and rapport. Rushing to conclusions can close off important details and pressure the survivor to fit a narrative, risking further harm and incomplete information.