What interviewing technique best builds rapport and elicits honest information from parolees?

• A. Yes/no questions with a rapid-fire pace.
• B. Forced-choice questions only.
• C. Interrogative style with high-authority tone.
• D. Open-ended questions with active listening, often incorporating motivational interviewing.

Answer: (D)

The main concept here is using interviewing techniques that establish rapport and invite honest information from parolees. Open-ended questions with active listening and motivational interviewing fit that goal best because they invite detailed responses, provide context, and reduce defensiveness.

Open-ended questions require more than a yes or no, so the parolee must explain what happened, why it happened, and what factors influenced their actions. This yields richer, more accurate information about behavior, triggers, supports, and plans. Active listening—showing you’re really hearing them through reflective statements, summaries, and attentive posture—conveys empathy and respect, which lowers defenses and encourages the parolee to share honestly.

Motivational interviewing builds on this by addressing ambivalence in a collaborative, non-judgmental way. It supports autonomy, helps the parolee articulate their own reasons for change, and strengthens commitment through reflective listening and affirmations. This approach tends to increase candor and engagement because it aligns with the person’s goals and readiness.

The other approaches tend to hinder honesty. Yes/no, rapid-fire questions can feel coercive and limit nuance; forced-choice questions constrain responses and may miss important details; and an interrogative, high-authority tone can provoke defensiveness and resistance.