To determine the students who are familiar with a specific area of subject matter, you should use which of the following types of questions?

The appropriate type of question to determine whether students are familiar with a specific area of subject matter is one that canvasses student knowledge. Canvassing questions engage students in such a way that allows the instructor to gauge their understanding and familiarity with the topic. These questions invite feedback from students about their experiences or insights related to the subject.

Using canvassing questions can create an interactive environment where students feel encouraged to express their level of understanding, share prior knowledge, and identify areas where they may need more information. This approach is particularly effective in a learning setting, as it opens dialogue and can provide the instructor with valuable insights into the collective knowledge of the class.

While yes or no questions might confirm a basic understanding, they do not provide the depth of knowledge needed to evaluate familiarity. Thought-provoking questions may stimulate discussion or critical thinking but might not directly assess familiarity with a specific subject. Factual questions typically focus on recalling specific information, which may not reveal the breadth of a student's understanding or experience with a topic. Thus, canvassing questions are a more effective choice for assessing familiarity with subject matter.