In the rapidly evolving innovative world, the power of questions and questioning is limitless. It is means and ways to seek information, explore things, test knowledge, and what not. Naturally, to serve different purposes, it is essential to design it accordingly. Hence, question have different forms that I’m going to explain through open ended and closed ended questions.
Question is a sentence that seeks or request information. There are various forms of questions depending on assigned purposes. Loaded, leading, probing, Rhetorical, close and open ended questions are the types of questions we use as per ours requirement.
Understanding various types of questions
Undoubtedly, nobody can be self-reliant in terms of information or knowledge. This is the reason why communication has so much importance. Being a versatile tool of communication, question serves different purposes by the means of different forms that you will learn here.
Grammatically, you may be aware of wh-question, tag, yes or no question and so on. Some could be formed by inversion of auxiliary or adding words. Some other could be by adding question tag or indirect form.
Generally speaking, Open ended questions, closed ended questions, indirect questions, probing, rhetorical, etc. are the types of questions we use in our day-to-day activities. Let’s learn one by one.
1. Factual questions/ convergent questions/ closed ended questions
Factual questions are the simplest form of questions based on its formation and level of information they seek. Such questions are formed by adding what, who, where, when, which etc.
The main purpose of these questions are to seek exact single answer. More rigid no flexibility and rely only on yes or no answers. Let’s see some examples.
What is your name?
When do you reach at home?
Where do you live?
In which course you are studying?
Who is your friend? etc.
All the above questions seeks exact single answer respose. They are also called closed ended questions. Really such questions are easy to varify, no difficulty in recalling. Most of the interactions involve factual questions.
Quantitative research approach relies on fatual question to collect data to validate claim or hypothesis. In another word, factual questions are also called converging questions.
Diverging questions promote imagination, reasoning and problem solving; whereas, converging questions demand single answer factual information.
2. Divergent questions/ open ended questions/probing questions/evaluate questions
Such questions demand many alternative answers to single question. No rigidity in answering question. Participants can answer in theirs own words. These are widely used in qualitative research methodology. Let’s see some examples of diverging questions.
Why do you think different from others?
How do you find solution for this problem?
What are potential alternatives to fossil fuels?
How many ways green energy would be generated?
Can you give me clarity further?
What are the pros and cons of this stock?
Unlike converging closed ended questions, such questions demand more broader information.
These questions are used in the qualitative research methods to generate new theory or insights. For more clarity, let’s dive deeper to understand difference between open ended and close ended questions.
Open ended Vs closed ended questions
Open-ended questions demand or ask more details of topic you quizzed. Whereas, closed questions seek black and white response either yes or no.
Though both close and open questions look contradictory in terms of answers they seek, theirs role in exploring knowledge, investigating problems, and finding solutions seems absolutely complementary.
One finds exact facts; while other obtains logical reasons. Really, both looks interesting to explore.
Meaning and examples of closed ended questions
Whether it is a open or close ended question, these act as driving force of communication. The aim of questions is to bring out unknown things or ideas at the surface.
Close question is a response seeking or fact finding means for survey or research. By this approach, relevant, exact, and one word answers or facts can be obtained. Besides, it helps to avoid unnecessary cumbersome burden of information, as it figure out most essential facts easily.
Is organic food better for health?
Do you agree that the terrorism is a global threat?
Are you interested in sport activities?
Who is your no.1 actor?
Do you like to watch movies?
All are examples of close questions which seeks one word answer either yes or no.
Examples and definition of open ended questions
Unlike close questions, open-ended questions encourage learners to be more innovative and creative. It emphasizes on the in-depth knowledge of given topic you quizzed. But, the answer or response obtained by the open questions can’t be concrete or absolute but in the degree of probability.
How do you describe your success journey?
Do you have any ideas to solve food security problem?
What factors are responsible for the rising demand for green and clean energy?
Such questions that I mentioned above demand detailed description or explanation about the topic. Here, mere one word answer can can’t be enough.
Difference between close and open questions
So far, we have learnt that close question seeks black and white one word answer; while, open question requires to answer in detail.
One helps to find out exact facts by filtering loads of information. Whereas, open questions empower individuals to exercise mental power to think critically and creatively.
Questions that seek detailed information and indepth insight of respondents who answer is termed as”Open question or open-ended question”.Such types of questions are aimed more than yes/no response from respondents, and empower person in question to exercise analytical as well as reasoned ability to find out better outcomes.
Description of open ended questions
Open question is a group of words or interrogative sentence directed to seek or ask detailed information from respondents either to reach at the probable conclusion or empower person in question to be more innovative.
Why are you so confused?
May I know the reason for your resignation?
In this question, demand is for reasons that compelled given person to resign.
Can you tell me why are people agitating here?
Person who is asking question wants to know the causes of agitation going here.
What are the potential factors of sporadic rainfall?
Wants to know the factors which are causing rain to be erratic or sporadic over the period of time.
How do we improve the demand for new product?
Officials eager to find out the ways and means to maximize demand for new product in market.
All the above examples belong to open-ended questions that seek reasons, options, alternatives, causes, etc. to support or deny possibilities.
Answer or responses received by the means of open-ended questions can’t be yes or no but in the degree of probability.
In other words, black and white responses possible in close questions, whereas, answers with varying probability would be the case of open-ended questions.
Importance or significance of open question
Unlike close questions, open-ended questions are instrumental in boosting creative, innovative and lateral thinking. These encourage students and researchers to try out something out of box solutions that might not be possible if one try out different means.In addition, by practicing this means, one can easily cultivate the scientific approach to tackle questions he or she may face in process of learning.
Unquestionably, by asking open-ended questions, anyone can gain better out of healthy debates, discussion, and arguments. Usually, open-ended questions are formed by “Why, how, where, why and how” question words. Finally, probability oriented results are the strength, whereas, lack of concrete finding is the weakness of the open-ended questions.
Understanding close question
In simple words, close question seek black and white response without shades of grey. It means one word answer is what the exact demand of close question.
Here, like open questions, you don’t have scope for elaboration your response nor chances of justification. Absolutely, naked response without pro and against arguments.
Are you free now?
Do you clear your exam?
Have you finished your assignment?
May I help you to solve the puzzle?
I’m so late. Would you please drop me there?
Does he get elected for second term? etc.
Importance and purpose of close questions
For inquiry, to obtain quantitative data regarding survey, collect exact facts, to seek relevant information, and to avoid arguments, close question has better role compare to other.
Many a time, let it be market survey or exit polls or opinion polls, close questions prove instrumental in collecting quick, exact response from respondents. This approach not only reduce the workload but bring more clarity of results.
Who will win the election?
Who will be the next PM?
Is this product useful?
Do you support climate change movements?
To whom are you going to support? etc.
Besides, in research methods, close question has greater role in data collection. Concrete data in favour or against can easily be collected by the means of close question.
Final words on open ended and closed ended questions,
In day-to-day activities, it is essential to exchange relevant and exact responses without loss of time. In survey, feedback, market research, close questions have greater role. On the other hand, in the empirical as well as inductive approach, open questions have their dominance. So, both seem contradictory but complementary in true sense.
Open ended and closed ended questions
Understanding types of research methods
https://www.casca.ca/ecass/issues/2009-ve/classroom/theismeijer/questions.htm