Examples of Open-Ended vs. Closed-Ended Questions

If you can answer a question with only a "yes" or "no" response, then you are answering a closed-ended type of question. Examples of closed-ended questions are:

• Are you feeling better today?

• May I use the bathroom?

• Is the prime rib a special tonight?

• Should I date him?

• Will you please do me a favor?
  

• Have you already completed your homework?

• Is that your final answer?

• Were you planning on becoming a fireman?

• May I please have a bite of that pie?
  

• Does four plus four equal eight?

Not all closed-ended questions have to be answered with a "yes" or "no." Any question that is worded such that it can be answered with a simple, direct response of one word or just a few words is closed-ended. These questions have direct responses that don't require elaboration in order to fully answer what was asked.

• Who made this cake?

• Do you want fried or baked chicken for dinner?
  

• What kind of pie is your favorite?

• Do you want to eat at home or go out?

• Who is driving to the beach?

• What time will the next Mass be held?

• Which internet browser do you prefer?

• Where did you go to school?

• What time does the movie start?

• Would you rather have a car or a jeep?

Open-ended questions are ones that require more than one-word answers or choosing among a few options. These questions require longer responses, with answers often coming in the form of a list or a few sentences or paragraphs. They can also come in the form of a speech or essay.

• What led to the two of you having a disagreement?
  
• What do you look for when choosing a veterinarian?
• How did you and your best friend meet?
  
• How can I know it's the right time to get married?
• What major effects did World War II have on the United States?
  
• What suggestions can you share to help me prepare to buy a house?
• What is it like to raise children as a single parent?
  
• Why can't I come along with you?
  
• What makes the leaves change color?
• Why is it important to save money for retirement?

Closed-ended questions are appropriate in situations where you're looking for a quick, definitive answer, but they're not conversation starters. When you're looking for an explanation or a rich level of detail, you'll want to use questions that are open-ended.

Most closed-ended questions can easily be adapted to be open-ended. Explore examples in relation to a wide variety of conversation topics. Choose the option that will provide the type of response or level of detail that you are seeking

When you're trying to get a feel of what a person likes, it's always a good idea to ask. If you just want to know if they like something or not, a closed-ended question will work just fine. If, however, you want to get a sense of their overall preferences, a closed-ended question will likely be more appropriate and effective.

Open ended-questions are critical in customer service and sales scenarios. By phrasing questions in a way that requires more than a super-short response, customer service and sales professionals can build positive relationships with customers and engage them in a dialogue. They're also great to include on customer satisfaction surveys.

For healthcare professionals, open-ended questions are important to being able to diagnose and treat patients. Nurses, doctors and others involved in patient care are well-served by learning how to ask the right kinds of open-ended questions when interacting with patients.

The purpose of a job interview is to get a good sense of whether a candidate will be a good fit for the job. That means that the interviewer needs to get the applicant to share a good bit of information. That won't happen if the interviewer only asks closed-ended questions. It's better to ask questions that require thoughtful responses.

Job interviews aren't the only scenario in which questions can be a tool for getting to know a person. Open-ended questions can be amazing conversation starters. They can help you get to learn more about your current friends or colleagues or get to know new people. Ice breaker exercises typically include open-ended questions.

Both closed-ended and open-ended questions serve important purposes in communication and can be used in a variety of scenarios. Closed-ended questions should be used to elicit a short, quick response, while open-ended questions can be gateways to a conversation. Think of closed-ended questions like objective true/false or multiple-choice questions on a school exam, while open-ended questions are more like subjective short responses and essay questions. Now that you know the difference between these question types, boost your knowledge of how to provide supporting details. You just might improve your test-taking skills along with your conversation abilities!