There are four levels of discriminate listening. Which refers to evaluating the information received?

• A. Reflective Listening
• B. Attentive Listening
• C. Retentive Listening
• D. Reactive Listening

Answer: (A)

When listening critically, you move from just hearing to judging what you’ve heard. The level that focuses on evaluating information received is reflective listening. It involves analyzing the message, weighing credibility and relevance, and confirming understanding before you respond—often by paraphrasing or asking clarifying questions to verify accuracy. Attentive listening is about focusing attention on the speaker and content, retentive listening emphasizes remembering details, and reactive listening is about responding to what’s said. Reflective listening is the process that directly targets evaluating the information.