Open and Closed Questions
Definition, Characteristics, Advantages, Disadvatages, Examples
OPEN QUESTION
Definition
Open Question
An open-ended question is
designed to encourage a full,
meaningful answer using the
subject's own knowledge and/or
feelings. Open-ended questions
also tend to be more objective
and less leading than closed-
ended questions.
Definition
Open Question
Open-ended questions
typically begin with words such
as "Why" and "How", or phrases
such as "Tell me about...". Often
they are not technically a
question, but a statement which
implicitly asks for a response.
Characteristics
Open Question
They ask the respondents to
think and reflect
They will give you opinions and
feelings
They hand control of the
conversation to the respondent
Application
Open Question
As a follow-on from closed
questions, to develop a
conversation and open up
someone who is rather quiet.
To find out more about a
person, their wants, needs,
problems, and so on.
Application
Open Question
To get people to realize the extend
of their problems (to which, of
course, you have the solution).
To get them to feel good about you
by asking after their health or
otherwise demonstrating human
concern about them.
Advantages
Open Question
they permit an unlimited number
of possible answers.
respondents can answer in detail
and can qualify and clarify
responses
unanticipated findings can be
discovered
Advantages
Open Question
they permit adequate answers to
complex issues
they permit creativity, self-
expression, and richness of detail
they reveal a respondent's logic,
thinking process, and frame of
reference
Advantages
Open Question
participants can respond to the
questions exactly as how they
would like to answer them
the reseacher can investigate the
meaning of the responses
ideal for qualitative typeof
research
Disadvantages
Open Question
different respondents give different
degrees of detail in answers
responses may be irrelevant or
buried in useless detail
comparisons and statistical
analysis become difficult
Disadvantages
Open Question
coding responses is difficult
articulate and highly literate
respondents have an advantage
questions may be too general for
respondents who lose direction
a greater amount of respondent
time, thought, and effort is
necessary
Disadvantages
Open Question
respondents can be intimidated
by questions
answers take up a lot of space in
the questionare.
time-consuming
reponse are difficult to code and
interpret.
Examples
Open Question
What did you do on you holidays?
How do you keep focused on your
work?
What's keeping you awake these
days?
Why is that so important to you?
Examples
Open Question
I wonder what would happen if
your customers complained even
more?
Rob Jones used to go out late.
What happened to him?
How have you been after your
operation?
You're looking down. What's up?
CLOSE QUESTION
Definition
Close Question
In this type of question, each
question type does not allow
the respondent to provide
unique or unanticipated
answers but rather they have
to choose from a list of pre-
selected options.
Definition
Close Question
A closed question can be
answered with either a single
word or a short phrase.
Thus 'How old are you?' and
'Where do you live?' are closed
questions.
Characteristics
Close Question
They give you facts.
They are easy and quick to
answer
They keep control of the
conversation with the
questioner.
Application
Close Question
As opening questions in a
conversation, as it makes it easy for
the other person to answer, and
doesn't force them to reveal too
much about themselves.
For testing their understanding
(asking yes/no questions). This is
also a great way to break into a
long ramble.
Application
Close Question
For setting up a desired positive or
negative frame of mind in them
(asking successive questions with
obvious answers either yes or no ).
For achieving closure of a
persuasion (seeking yes to the big
question).
Advantages
Close Question
they permit an unlimited number
of possible answers.
respondents can answer in detail
and can qualify and clarify
responses
unanticipated findings can be
discovered
Advantages
Close Question
it is easier and quicker for respondents
to answer
the answers of different respondents
are easier to compare
answers are easier to code and
statistically analyse
the response choices can clarify
question meaning for respondents
Advantages
Close Question
respondents are more likely to answer
about sensitive topics
there are fewer irrelevant or confused
answers to questions
less articulate or less literate
respondents are not at a disadvantage
replication is easier
Advantages
Close Question
time-efficient
responses are easy to code and
interpret
ideal for quantitative kind of
research
Disdvantages
Close Question
they can suggest ideas that the respondent
would not otherwise have
respondents with no opinion or no
knowledge can answer anyway
respondents can be frustrated because their
desired answer is not a choice
it is confusing if many response choices are
offered
Disdvantages
Close Question
distinctions between respondent answers
may be blurred
clerical mistakes or marking the wrong
response is possible
they force respondents to give simplistic
responses to complex issues
they force people to make choices they
would not make in the real world
Disdvantages
Close Question
respondents are required to choose a
response that does not exactly reflect
their answer
the researcher cannot further explore
the meaning of the responses
misinterpretation of a question can go
unnoticed
Examples
Close Question
It's great weather, isn't it?
Where do you live?
What time is it?
So, you want to move into our
apartment, with your own bedroom
and bathroom -- true?
Are you happy with your current
supplier?
Examples
Close Question
Do they give you all that you need?
Would you like to find a better
supplier?
If I can deliver this tomorrow, will
you sign for it now?
References
Open and Close Questions
• Open-Ended Questions. Retrieved January 30, 2017 from Media
College, http://
www.mediacollege.com/journalism/interviews/open-ended-qu
estions.html
• Open and Closed Questions. (2002). Retrieved, January 30, 2017,
from Changing Minds, http://
changingminds.org/techniques/questioning/open_closed
_questions.htm
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Open and Closed Questions.
Retrieved January 30, 2017 from Environment UWaterloo, http://
environment.uwaterloo.ca/research/watgreen/projects/library/1020/o
cq.html
