When preparing questions for surveys, interviews, and news reporting, it is essential to know the suitable types of questions to ask. Questions come in many forms. There is the casual, “how’s it going?” question. There is the awkward first date question, “what are you looking for in a relationship?” Or even the “would you like fries with that?” question.
We are bombarded with questions throughout our daily lives. Yet, even with all the questions we are asked, we commonly receive two types of questions – open-ended and close-ended.
Open-ended questions are those that require more thought. Typically, they can’t be answered with a single word like “yes” or “no.” Instead, they need the respondents to think deeper for an answer. Close-ended questions require a simple response. These questions have a limited scope for answering. They can include multiple-choice, rating, and predetermined answers.
It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.
Eugene Jonesco
The following are some close-ended questions that can be rewritten to entice respondents to expand their answers.
Original: “Have you ever sent a text message while driving?”
Alternatives: “What types of text messages do you send while driving?” or “When would you send a text message while driving?” These questions can get the respondent to either deny this habit or encourage them to speak more about the topic.
Original: “Do you post a lot of pictures on Instagram?”
Alternatives: “What types of pictures do you post on Instagram?” or “What are the most common pictures you post on Instagram?” This isn’t the same question, but you can learn a lot from the responses.
Original: “Do you prefer to shop at big boxes or locally owned stores?”
Alternatives: “What locally owned stores do you shop at?” or “What big box stores do you shop at?” Either one of these questions will invite a response that confirms the type of store the respondent shops.
Original: “How often do you eat sweets?”
Alternatives: “What sweets do you eat the most?” or “What were the last sweets you had?” These questions are weak open-ended questions, but they can lead to more conversation and better responses.
Original: “Would you say you travel abroad frequently?”
Alternatives: “Where do you frequently travel abroad too?” or “How often do you travel abroad?” This is a similar close-ended question, but you can follow up by asking where they like to travel.
Original: “Do you have an iPhone or an Android phone?”
Alternatives: “What are your favorite things about the iPhone?” or “What do you like about the iPhone’s camera features?” These two questions can get the respondent to either say, “I have an android,” or they will start sharing with you about their phone.
Original: Do you tend to buy things that are on sale?
Alternatives: “What is your favorite sale?” or “What was the best sale you have been to?” Both of these questions can open more conversation. However, some close-ended questions require more “digging” to get more information.
These are just a few tips on asking the right question and how to receive the answers you are looking for. Understanding the difference between these questions can allow you to ask better questions and construct better responses.
Jessica Kupcake 