🎯 Converting Assumptions to Stakeholder Questions

Transform your analytical assumptions into meaningful questions for community engagement. Bridge the gap between desk research and lived experience by preparing strategic questions that validate, challenge, and refine your problem tree.

🤔 Understanding the Assumption Challenge

Why Assumptions Are Inevitable

  • Limited data forces logical inferences
  • External perspectives may miss local nuances
  • Research gaps require educated guessing
  • Causal complexity involves multiple possible explanations
  • Time constraints prevent exhaustive investigation

Why Assumptions Are Dangerous

  • Wrong assumptions lead to ineffective solutions
  • Unvalidated assumptions create stakeholder resistance
  • Hidden assumptions prevent learning and adaptation
  • Biased assumptions exclude important voices
  • Assumption stacking compounds errors exponentially

The Solution: Systematic Validation

Convert every significant assumption into testable questions for stakeholder engagement, creating a bridge between research and reality.

🔄 The Assumption-to-Question Process

Step 1: Assumption Identification

Common Assumption Categories in Problem Trees

Scale and Scope Assumptions:

  • “This affects X number of people”
  • “The problem is getting worse/better”
  • “Rural areas are more affected than urban”
  • “Women experience this differently than men”

Causal Assumptions:

  • “A leads to B because of mechanism C”
  • “This is the primary/secondary cause”
  • “Addressing X will reduce Y”
  • “Multiple causes interact in this specific way”

Priority and Impact Assumptions:

  • “This cause is more important than others”
  • “People care most about this aspect”
  • “The community is ready for this type of intervention”
  • “This effect is the most serious consequence”

Context Assumptions:

  • “Local culture supports/opposes certain approaches”
  • “Government policy helps/hinders in these ways”
  • “Economic constraints operate like this”
  • “Social norms influence behavior in predictable ways”

Step 2: Question Transformation Framework

The OPEN Question Formula

Open-ended: Allows for unexpected responses
Particular: Specific to stakeholder experience
Exploratory: Invites elaboration and examples
Neutral: Doesn’t lead toward desired answer

Transformation Examples

Assumption → Question Transformation

Assumption: “Women have less access to credit than men” Weak Question: “Do women have trouble getting credit?” Strong Question: “Can you walk me through what happens when someone in your community wants to borrow money? How might that experience be different for men and women?”

Assumption: “Distance to health facilities is a major barrier” Weak Question: “Is distance to the clinic a problem?” Strong Question: “Tell me about the last time someone in your family needed healthcare. What was that journey like from start to finish?”

Assumption: “Youth prefer modern farming methods” Weak Question: “Do young people like new farming techniques?” Strong Question: “When young people in this area think about farming, what attracts them to it? What concerns them? How do they approach farming decisions differently than their parents?”

📋 Question Categories and Templates

🌳 Core Problem Validation Questions

Problem Definition Validation

Assumption Category: Problem definition and scope Question Templates:

  1. Experience Validation “Can you describe a time when [PROBLEM AREA] affected you or your family? What was that experience like?”

  2. Priority Validation “When you think about the biggest challenges in this community, what comes to mind first? How would you rank [YOUR PROBLEM] compared to other issues?”

  3. Manifestation Validation “How does [PROBLEM AREA] show up in daily life here? What does it look like when it’s happening?”

  4. Change Over Time “How has [PROBLEM AREA] changed in this community over the past few years? What do you think has driven those changes?”

🌱 Root Cause Validation Questions

Causal Logic Testing

Assumption Category: Cause-effect relationships Question Templates:

  1. Causal Chain Exploration “In your experience, what leads to [PROBLEM]? Can you walk me through how that happens?”

  2. Multiple Cause Investigation “What are all the different things that contribute to [PROBLEM]? Which of these do you think is most important?”

  3. Exception Analysis “Are there times when [ASSUMED CAUSE] is present but [PROBLEM] doesn’t occur? What’s different in those situations?”

  4. Intervention History “What has been tried before to address [PROBLEM]? What worked, what didn’t, and why do you think that was?”

Stakeholder Cause Attribution

Assumption Category: Different groups’ perspectives on causes

  1. Perspective Comparison “How do you think [OTHER STAKEHOLDER GROUP] would explain why [PROBLEM] exists? Do you agree with that explanation?”

  2. Blame vs. Cause Separation “Some people say [PROBLEM] is caused by [CONTESTED CAUSE]. What do you think about that? What evidence do you see?”

  3. Historical Context “How long has [PROBLEM] been an issue here? What do older community members say about when and how it started?”

🌿 Effects Validation Questions

Impact Verification

Assumption Category: Problem consequences and effects

  1. Personal Impact Stories “How has [PROBLEM] changed things for you personally? For your family? For your work or daily life?”

  2. Community Impact Observation “What changes have you noticed in the community because of [PROBLEM]? What’s different now compared to before?”

  3. Ripple Effect Mapping “When [PROBLEM] affects one family, how does that impact others? Can you give me an example?”

  4. Hidden Consequences “Are there effects of [PROBLEM] that people don’t usually talk about or that outsiders might not see?”

🎭 Stakeholder-Specific Question Design

Questions for Affected Populations

Experience-Centered Questions

Focus: Personal stories, daily impact, coping strategies Tone: Respectful, non-judgmental, empowering

Examples:

  • “What does a typical day look like when [PROBLEM] is affecting you?”
  • “What strategies have you developed to deal with [PROBLEM]?”
  • “If you could change one thing about [PROBLEM SITUATION], what would it be?”
  • “What do people outside this community not understand about [PROBLEM]?”

Questions for Service Providers

System-Level Questions

Focus: Service delivery, policy implementation, resource constraints Tone: Professional, collaborative, solution-oriented

Examples:

  • “From your perspective providing [SERVICES], what are the main barriers your clients face?”
  • “How has [PROBLEM] evolved in terms of the cases you see?”
  • “What would need to change in the system for you to be more effective?”
  • “Where do you see gaps between policy/programs and what actually happens?”

Questions for Decision Makers

Policy and Resource Questions

Focus: Institutional perspective, resource allocation, political feasibility Tone: Strategic, evidence-focused, realistic

Examples:

  • “How does [PROBLEM] fit into your organization’s current priorities?”
  • “What evidence would you need to see to support increased investment in [PROBLEM AREA]?”
  • “What are the main constraints you face in addressing [PROBLEM]?”
  • “How do different stakeholder groups approach you about [PROBLEM]?”

Questions for Community Leaders

Social Dynamics Questions

Focus: Cultural context, social norms, community readiness Tone: Respectful of authority, culturally appropriate

Examples:

  • “How do community members typically discuss [PROBLEM]? Is it something people talk about openly?”
  • “What cultural or traditional factors are important to consider when addressing [PROBLEM]?”
  • “How ready do you think the community is for [TYPE OF INTERVENTION]?”
  • “What would community members need to see to support efforts to address [PROBLEM]?”

🔄 Question Sequence and Flow

The Validation Conversation Arc

Opening (Build Rapport)

  1. Context Setting: “I’m trying to understand [PROBLEM AREA] in this community”
  2. Experience Invitation: “Can you share your perspective on this?”
  3. Permission Seeking: “Is it okay if I ask you some specific questions?”

Core Validation (Test Assumptions)

  1. General Experience: Broad questions about the problem area
  2. Specific Assumptions: Questions targeting your key assumptions
  3. Causal Exploration: Questions about why and how
  4. Impact Investigation: Questions about consequences and effects

Deepening (Uncover New Insights)

  1. Exception Analysis: When things work differently
  2. Historical Perspective: How things have changed
  3. Future Orientation: What respondents hope for or expect

Closing (Action Orientation)

  1. Priority Confirmation: What matters most to address first
  2. Solution Insights: What kinds of approaches might work
  3. Engagement: How they want to be involved going forward

Question Flow Management

Transition Phrases

  • “That’s really helpful. Let me ask you about…”
  • “Building on what you said about X, I’m curious about…”
  • “You mentioned Y - can you help me understand…”
  • “I’ve heard different perspectives on Z - what’s your experience?”

Probing Follow-ups

  • “Can you give me an example of that?”
  • “What do you mean when you say…?”
  • “Help me understand what that looked like…”
  • “What happened next?”

📝 Question Preparation Tools

Assumption Mapping Worksheet

For Each Major Assumption:

  1. Assumption Statement: Write out the specific assumption
  2. Evidence Level: Rate how well-supported this is (1-5 scale)
  3. Risk Level: How wrong could this be? (1-5 scale)
  4. Stakeholder Relevance: Who would have the best insight on this?
  5. Question Design: Write 2-3 questions to test this assumption
  6. Follow-up Plan: What will you do if the assumption is wrong?

Stakeholder Question Matrix

Stakeholder Group Key Assumptions to Test Primary Question Strategy Follow-up Approach
Affected Populations Personal experience, daily impact Story-based, experience questions Probing for details and emotions
Service Providers System barriers, service gaps Professional, system-focused questions Solutions and recommendations
Decision Makers Priority level, resource allocation Strategic, evidence-based questions Policy and implementation focus
Community Leaders Cultural factors, community readiness Respectful, culturally-informed questions Social dynamics and norms

📥 Download Question Development Tools

Stakeholder Question Toolkit

🚀 Next Steps

  1. Map your key assumptions using the assumption identification framework
  2. Transform assumptions into questions using the OPEN formula
  3. Organize questions by stakeholder group for targeted conversations
  4. Continue to 👓 Pro Tips for Success for advanced implementation strategies
  5. Begin stakeholder engagement using your question toolkit

Great questions transform assumptions into insights. The quality of your questions determines the quality of your learning, and the quality of your learning determines the effectiveness of your intervention.