Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Identifying open questions
• Part 2 of 2: Using open-ended questions
• Warnings

Asking questions is the primary way of gathering information. But, like everything else, this needs to be learned. Open-ended questions are a friendly way to engage a person in a conversation. Knowing the difference between open-ended and closed-ended questions will help you in your career and social life.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Identifying open questions

1. 1 An open-ended question is a question that can only be answered in detail, using one's own knowledge or feelings. These questions are objective and a large number of words are used to answer them. Examples of open-ended questions:
   • "What happened after I left?"
   • "Why did Vlad leave before Christina left?"
   • "Why did everyone like the cake?"
   • "Tell me about your day at work."
   • "What do you think of the new season of this series?"
2. 2 Do not ask closed-ended questions that only provide a monosyllabic answer. Such questions are used to obtain facts and specific information. Examples of closed questions:
   • "Who will you choose?"
   • "What kind of car do you have?"
   • "Have you talked to Nikita?"
   • "Did Christina leave with Vlad?"
   • "Have you eaten the cake yet?"
   • Closed questions lead the conversation to a dead end, since the interlocutor does not give detailed answers, does not talk about himself and does not give details.
3. 3 Sometimes people think that they are asking open-ended questions, when in fact they are not. In order to ask open-ended questions, understand their properties:
   • If you ask an open-ended question, your interlocutor will think about the answer to it.
   • The answer to an open-ended question is not facts and hard data, but the feelings, opinions or ideas of the interlocutor about the subject of the question.
   • By asking open-ended questions, a person conveys the initiative (in maintaining the conversation) to his interlocutor; if a person has the initiative throughout the conversation, he asks closed questions (in this case, the person feels as if he is being interrogated).
   • Avoid closed-ended questions that have the following properties:
     • the answers are facts and hard data;
     • such questions are easy to answer;
     • the interlocutor does not think about the answers to such questions.
4. 4 In order to ask open-ended questions, you need to learn a few words and phrases with which such questions begin.
   • Open-ended questions begin with the following words: why, how, what, describe, tell me about, what do you think about.
   • Although the phrase “tell me about” is not the beginning of a question, the interviewee's reaction will be similar to the answer to an open-ended question.
   • Closed-ended questions also start with specific words or phrases. If you want to avoid closed-ended questions, do not start the question with the following verbs: is / was, did / did, will / will not, if.

Part 2 of 2: Using open-ended questions

1. 1 Use open-ended questions for detailed, meaningful, and thoughtful answers. By asking these questions, you encourage the other person to be more open, because you show him your interest in his answers.
   • Do not ask closed-ended questions if you want a detailed answer. Such questions lead the conversation to a dead end. Monosyllabic answers do not contribute to the development of the conversation and your relationship with the interlocutor.
   • Ask open-ended questions when you need detailed explanations.
   • Use open-ended questions to develop the conversation after you have asked a few closed-ended questions and received facts and hard data. Build your open-ended question based on your findings or data.
2. 2 Don't go beyond. Open-ended questions can be too open-ended. Therefore, the wording of open-ended questions is extremely important, especially if you want to get a definite answer.
   • For example, you might ask, "What do you like about people?" Some qualities of a person will be listed for you, and you will continue the conversation about a certain character trait. Instead of this question, ask the following, more specific question: "What quality do you like about people?"
3. 3 If you want to know more about something, start with specific questions and then move on to more general and open-ended questions. It also comes in handy if you're trying to get someone interested in a particular subject or help someone feel more confident.
   • If you can't get detailed answers by asking open-ended questions, try to flesh out the questions and then make them more general to develop the conversation. For example, you are talking to your child: "What happened at school?" - "Nothing." - "What writing assignments were you given?" Most likely, the last question will lead to the beginning of the conversation.
4. 4 Use open-ended questions as follow-up questions after open-ended or closed-ended questions.
   • Clarifying questions begin with "why" and "how."
   • When the other person has finished speaking, ask them an open-ended question that relates to what they just said.
5. 5 Open-ended questions are one of the best ways to form and forge relationships with people. Unlike closed-ended questions, open-ended questions encourage people to have meaningful and meaningful conversations.
   • Ask open-ended questions to learn more about the person. Open-ended questions encourage people to talk more about themselves. By asking clarifying questions, you can learn a lot more about the person.
   • Open-ended questions can demonstrate caring or compassion on your part. Asking, "How do you feel?" - or: “Why are you crying?”, you invite the person to share their feelings with you. Asking, "Are you okay?", You will hear a simple "yes" or "no" in response.
   • Ask open-ended questions to strike up a conversation with shy, nervous, or strangers. Questions like this will calm them down and make them more open.
   • Use open-ended questions that do not pressure the person or affect their response. Most open-ended questions are neutral, but closed-ended questions can be phrased in such a way that the person will feel pressure from you in order to get the right answer. For example, a salesperson might ask, "Don't you think this is a beautiful dress?" In this case, a neutral open-ended question would be: "How do you like this dress?" The words “isn't it”, “isn't it” and similar ones turn an ordinary question into a leading one, which presupposes that the person agrees with you. Don't use these words in open-ended questions.
   • Don't ask people too personal questions. If you ask a question like this and the person doesn't want to answer it, just ask another, less personal question.
6. 6 Ask questions that can be answered in different ways. Open-ended questions are good for discussing different topics, as such questions involve answers with a variety of ideas and opinions.Also, such questions stimulate creative thinking and the generation of ideas.
   • Open-ended questions develop language skills. You can use open-ended questions with children and foreign students to help stimulate thinking and improve language skills.
7. 7 Ask questions that encourage people to talk. Conversation is a kind of art that is not available to all people. Some are embarrassed to talk to strangers, and open-ended questions can help them relieve tension.
8. 8 Ask follow-up questions, which are a kind of open-ended questions. You can do this in two ways.
   • Ask a follow-up question to clarify any confusion. If you asked an open-ended question and received a vague answer, ask a follow-up question. For example: "Why do you like living here?" - "Because of the landscape." - "What landscape?"
   • Ask a follow-up question to find out more information. If you asked an open-ended question and received a specific answer, please ask a follow-up question for more information. For example, such clarifying questions are the following questions: "What else do you like?" - or: "What other reasons do you have?"
   • Don't ask the question "Is there anything else?" This is a closed question.
9. 9 Some open-ended questions stimulate a person's creativity and expand their horizons of thought.
   • Some open-ended questions require the use of a person's intuitive and analytical abilities, for example: "Who will win the elections?" - or: "What effect will the choice of this candidate have on the situation in your country?"
   • Some open-ended questions make people think about the causes and possible consequences, for example, "What happens if ...?" - or: "What happens if you ...?"
10. 10 Try to get the other person to ask you open-ended questions too. This will help develop the conversation and allow you to participate in it (and not just ask questions). To do this, try not to answer the questions in full detail and detail.
11. 11 Learn to listen. The ability to ask the right questions is useless if you cannot listen to the interlocutor. Sometimes we ask the next question without paying attention to the answer given to the previous question. You miss the opportunity to ask a clarifying question if you are not listening to the interlocutor. Therefore, listen carefully to the answers to the questions asked.

Warnings

• A person who is uncomfortable answering open-ended questions either does not understand what you want from him or does not want to answer you. Try to explain your questions. If that doesn't work, then you are asking something very personal and the person doesn't want you to know about it.
• Open-ended questions can lead to lengthy and tedious answers. If you don't want the other person to be tired, ask short and specific questions.