In motivational interviewing, what does the acronym OARS represent?

• A. Open questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries
• B. Open questions, analysis, reflective listening, and summaries
• C. Observational analysis, rationalization, assessment, and summary
• D. Open questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries

Answer: (A)

In motivational interviewing, the approach rests on a set of communication skills called OARS. Open questions invite clients to share their story in detail, exploring values, goals, and ambivalence rather than giving yes-or-no answers. Affirmations recognize client strengths and past efforts, fostering self-efficacy and collaboration. Reflective listening demonstrates empathy and helps clients hear and clarify their own feelings and motivations. Summaries weave together what the client has said, highlight progress, and link concerns with change goals, guiding the conversation toward change talk. Because some options mix in terms like analysis, observational analysis, rationalization, or assessment, which aren’t part of OARS, the standard pairing is open questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries.