[macintologist]

I'm giving a paper presentation to my history class next week. If I ask a few classmates of mine to ask me some specific questions (during the question-answer period following the presenation), the answer which I have already researched, is that unethical in any way? It would make me look like I was more thorough in my research, and my friends would look attentive and engaged.

[tie]

Yes, imho. On the other hand, if there aren't any real questions, then you can call in the stage questions. You can make a joke of it, and it will still show both that your research was thorough and that you put effort into your presentation.

[Ghoser777]

I've done something like that - I don't think it's really unethical if you're doing it for the right reasons and make sure that it's clear that you set them up. Like, have them read right off a script or something.

[goMac]

In higher education, I don't see anything outwardly wrong with it, but it's still doesn't sound entirely kosher.

[hickey]

i agree with tie. If no one is asking any real questions, go to your prepped ones. That way at least you tried.

[Railroader]

It makes you look lazy.

[mitchell_pgh]

It's a fine line. If you pick you staged people over the legitimate people, yes, it's wrong. But I've done it MANY times to get the ball rolling regarding q/a.

[brapper]

The prefered way of doing this is to pose questions to the audience to facilitate discussion. If no one else offers an answer, then it's perfectly alright for your friends to jump in.

[SirCastor]

Staged questions are a good way to provide additional information to the class without lecturing to them more. If the question answer period is a part of your grade, I would think twice about it. You can always ask the teacher: "I want to encourage additional questions, so I've planted some people. Is that unacceptable?"

[Jawbone54]

It sounds less interesting than random questions. It will come off as forced and unnatural.

[marden]

Originally Posted by SirCastor 

Staged questions are a good way to provide additional information to the class without lecturing to them more. If the question answer period is a part of your grade, I would think twice about it. You can always ask the teacher: "I want to encourage additional questions, so I've planted some people. Is that unacceptable?"

I agree!

[ghporter]

It's dishonest if you don't let your professor know WELL in advance, and if you don't do something to disclose this after the end of the Q&A session. It's dishonest without that because it could convince the prof that you were more effective in your presentation than you really were, and dishonest to the other students/audience because they could feel that they missed something if they weren't moved to ask questions.

[mac128k-1984]

Originally Posted by macintologist 

I'm giving a paper presentation to my history class next week. If I ask a few classmates of mine to ask me some specific questions (during the question-answer period following the presenation), the answer which I have already researched, is that unethical in any way? It would make me look like I was more thorough in my research, and my friends would look attentive and engaged.

As others said staged questions can add to your presentation because it can expound upon some specific topics but if you're looking to "make me look like I was more thorough in my research" then I'd say you're being dishonest. why not do a more thorough job in researching so you don't have to pretend that you did with staged questions?

[Big Mac]

I personally don't see the point of seeding questions. If the information you want to convey is that important to your research project, then you should try to integrate it into the lecture itself.

[Mrjinglesusa]

YOU are giving the presentation. As such YOU should known the material better than anyone else in the room. That being the case, why do you need to use staged questions that you know how to answer? You should be able to answer any question someone might ask. If you don't, there is nothing wrong with admitting that you don't know the answer. Worse than not knowing is trying to BS your way through an answer.

[mac128k-1984]

One other issue aside from your integrity being at stage, what happens if you do use staged questions so as to imply your knowledge of the subject matters and someone, or the professor asks a followup question that you had not prepared for, it may make matters worse.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Go for it, as long as it makes you look better.

[macintologist]

Well I have my presentation today and didn't plant any questions in the audience. You guys tipped me over the fence onto the honesty lawn