Could a vague answer come from asking two questions at once?
Check whether your question contains two judgments that could receive different answers. Separate them and begin with the one that matters most.
Find the paired judgments
Asking whether a class was clear and useful combines understanding with application. Someone may understand it but have no use for it, or see a use while finding the explanation rushed. Do not interpret a mild response as a verdict on both.
Check a short answer with an example
Invite one understandable or applicable moment. If the person prefers not to elaborate, preserve that limit. A short question still needs context; a bare request for a rating remains ambiguous.
A worksheet you can use
Original: __. Judgment A: __. Judgment B: __. Priority: __. Part actually answered: __.
What if I already asked it?
Acknowledge combining two things and clarify one. A lengthy apology is unnecessary.
Evidence and scope
Separating questions makes meaning easier to check but cannot guarantee a complete response.
Schade discusses leading questions. WKND scripts are editorial, not author-reviewed. Amy Schade / Nielsen Norman Group — Avoid Leading Questions to Get Better Insights from Participants
Sources and further reading
Amy Schade / Nielsen Norman Group — Avoid Leading Questions to Get Better Insights from Participants
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