How to Ask Open Ended Questions

We need information from others every day. Techniques we use to gather that information can have
great impact on both its quality and quantity. Open-ended questions are not only friendlier, but they
obtain the desired result --information-- more quickly and are easier on the person answering. Oddly,
many people do not know why open-ended questions are better or how to ask them, yet they can be
the easiest part of conversation imaginable.

edit Steps

'Know the difference.' An open-ended question requires an answer greater than a single
word or two. A closed-ended question can be answered with a simple "Yes," "No," or other
very simple answer.

For example, if I want to know what happened after I left the party, I could ask,
"Did you speak to Bob?" or
"Did Susan leave with Jim?" or
"Did they finish all the champagne?"
These are closed-ended questions that can all be answered with very simple answers. A
series of closed-ended questions can sound like a kind of cross-examination, "putting
friends on trial."

Change your tactics. Inexperienced news reporters often find themselves frustrated by
interview subjects who just won't talk. With experience, they learn how to ask questions that
get people to open up. Although you might want a specific piece of information, asking a
more general question might get a longer, more full response that contains the information
you really want.

For example, if I wanted to know if you spoke to Bob after I left the party, or if Susan left
with Jim (or anything else), I can simply ask "What happened after I left?" Chances are I'll
hear what I want to know somewhere in your answer. If not, I can follow that up with another
open-ended question, "What happened with Susan and Jim?"

Let's say I want to know why you cancelled our date. Was it something I had said or done?
Were you suddenly taken sick? Did somebody with a pressing need call you? I could ask
any of these specific, closed-ended questions or the very simple and open, "Why did you
cancel our date?"
If the answer was vague or too general, my next open-ended question could be just slightly
less open-ended.
Me: "Why did you cancel our date?"
You: "I wasn't feeling well."
Me: "Oh? I hope you're feeling better now. What was wrong?"

After you've asked your open-ended question(s) and have not gotten the specific
information you want, it is now effective and acceptable to ask more specific questions like,
"What happened to the champagne?" A major mistake people make is to begin with
specifics, which wastes a lot of time. End with specifics, if necessary.

Follow up with "Why?" or "How?" Another technique that can help you get specific
information and a lengthier answer is to ask a closed-ended question followed up with
"Why?" or "How?"
For example, if I want to know whether I might find a class useful, I can ask someone who
took it.
Me: "Did you like that Sociology class?"
Him: "Nope."
Me: "Why not?"
Him: "Oh, well, it was a lot of reading and theory without much practical application, for one
thing."

Go Narrow First Then Broad and Open. If you're struggling to get the person to open up
with broad open questions, try narrowing the questions first and then make them broader
after getting them into the conversation. Example of this would be when talking to your kids
after school and you ask, "What happen today?" "Nothing" is the response. Go to something
like, "What writing assignment were you assigned?" Likely you will get an answer and from
this begin opening up the question further.

Listen! Sometimes we are guilty of formulating the next question without paying attention to
the answer to the first. You miss great opportunities for follow-up questions if you do this!
Make an effort to listen to the answer you asked for! edit

Warnings

A person who is uncomfortable answering open-ended questions either doesn't understand

where you are going with it or doesn't really want to answer. You can try giving a little
explanation. If the answer is still personal or otherwise its probably a topic your subject
doesn't want to explore. Open ended questions may result in long, tedious answers. If you
would like to keep them brief or relevant, be specific when asking the question.