Asking questions is a way of gathering information. But, as with anything else, there is a skill component. Asking open-ended questions is a friendly way to engage others in conversation. Knowing the difference between open and closed questions will help you tremendously in your career and social life.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Understanding Open-ended Questions
Step 1. Understand what an open-ended question is
Before you can start asking questions like these, you'll need to know what they are. An open question is a question that requires a full answer that harnesses a person's knowledge or feelings. These questions are objective, do not guide the response of the hearer and require a response of many words. Examples of open-ended questions:
- "What happened after I left?"
- "Why did Marco leave before Laura?"
- "What did they say about the cake?"
- "Tell me about your day at work."
- "What do you think of the new season of this TV show?"
Step 2. Don't ask closed questions
These questions can be answered with a short or one-word answer. They are used to obtain specific facts and information. Here are some examples of closed-ended questions:
- "Who will you choose?"
- "What car do you have?"
- "Have you talked to Carlo?"
- "Did Laura leave Marco?"
- "Is the cake left over?"
- Closed-ended questions interrupt the conversation. They don't invite people to elaborate, talk about themselves, and they don't give any information about the person who is responding.
Step 3. Recognize the characteristics of open-ended questions
In some cases, people think they've asked an open-ended question when they don't. To successfully ask open-ended questions in conversations, learn their characteristics.
- They require a person to stop and think and reflect.
- The answers will not be facts, but personal feelings, opinions or ideas about a topic.
- When you use open-ended questions, control of the conversation passes to the person being asked the question, which requires an exchange between people. If control of the conversation remains with the person asking the question, it is a closed question. This technique makes the conversation seem like an interview or questioning.
- Avoid questions that have the following characteristics: answers contain facts; it is easy to answer; the answers are given quickly and do not require much mental effort. Questions that have these characteristics are closed-ended.
Step 4. Learn the language of open-ended questions
To make sure you ask open-ended questions, you'll need to understand the language to use. Open-ended questions begin very specifically.
- They start with the following words: why, how, what, describe, tell me, tell me or what you think.
- Even if "tell me" doesn't lead to a question, the result is the same as an open-ended question.
- Closed-ended questions have a specific language. If you want to avoid closed-ended questions, do not start the questions with the following verbs: are / were, have done, will do, have not done, would like, would do, if, are not.
Part 2 of 2: Using Open-ended Questions
Step 1. Ask an open-ended question to get meaningful answers
One of the main reasons for using questions of this type is to receive deep, meaningful and thoughtful answers. Asking questions in this way invites people to open up, because you will show interest in what they have to say.
- Don't use closed-ended questions if you want meaningful answers. These questions can lead the conversation to a standstill. One word answers do not easily allow for conversations or relationships to develop. Closed-ended questions usually do not allow adequate answers.
- Ask open-ended questions when you want detailed explanations to get a conversation going.
- Use open-ended questions to expand the conversation after asking a few closed-ended questions to learn the facts or get one-word answers. Consider the fact or answer, and start a conversation with open-ended questions from there.
Step 2. Specify the discussion limits
Open-ended questions can be too vague in some cases. The words you choose are very important when asking open-ended questions, especially if you are looking for a certain type of answer.
If you are trying to arrange a date for a friend, you might ask "What do you look for in a person?" You may get an answer about the physical characteristics, when you actually wanted to talk about the personality. Instead, ask a more specific question with parameters: "What personality traits do you look for in a person?"
Step 3. Try to expand the questions progressively
For this method, start with narrow questions, then move on to more open ones. This method is useful if you are trying to get specific details from someone. It also works if you're trying to get someone interested in a topic, or if you're trying to make someone feel more confident.
If you have trouble getting someone to open up with vague open-ended questions, try narrowing down first and then broadening the questions after starting the conversation. An example of this situation is when you talk to your children. You might ask questions like "What did you do at school today?" "Nothing" will be the answer. Follow up with something like "What did you write for the test?" Probably, a conversation will arise
Step 4. Continue with learning questions
Ask open-ended questions and continue with other questions. You can ask the follow-up questions after the open and closed questions.
- Ask "why" and "how" to learn more and receive more detailed answers after the closed-ended questions.
- When someone has finished speaking, ask open-ended questions that relate to what was said. This will allow you to keep the conversation alive and the other person involved.
Step 5. Connect with people
Open-ended questions are one of the best ways to connect with someone in conversation. Unlike closed-ended questions, open-ended questions encourage deeper and more meaningful exchanges between two people. These questions indicate that the questioner is interested in hearing the answers.
- Ask these questions to find out more about a person. In many cases, open-ended questions encourage people to talk about themselves. By asking follow-up questions, you can continue to find out about the person.
- These questions can demonstrate concern, compassion, or concern for someone else. Open-ended questions require more personal and involved answers. Asking "What do you feel?" or "Why are you crying?", you will invite a person to share their feelings with you. Asking "Are you okay?" the answer will be a simple yes or no.
- Ask open-ended questions to spark conversations with people who are quiet, nervous, or unfamiliar with. You will help them feel comfortable and encourage them to open up.
- Use open-ended questions to avoid putting pressure, influencing, or tricking a person into answering as you would like. Most open-ended questions are neutral questions. The way we ask closed-ended questions can put pressure on a person to answer a certain way. An influencing question for example is "Don't you think this dress is cute?", While an open question would be, "What do you think about this dress?" Expressions like "Isn't that true?", "Don't you think?" or "Couldn't they?" they can turn questions into influencing questions. Don't use them in open-ended questions.
- Be careful not to ask questions that are too personal or that ask for too much private information. Assess the level of confidence you have with the person you are talking to. If you find that you have asked a question that is too personal, ask for something else, less private.
Step 6. Ask questions that can have many different answers
Open-ended questions are great for discussions. They encourage different answers, opinions and solutions. They also encourage creative thinking and value people's ideas.
Open-ended questions stimulate language skills in a sophisticated way. You can use open-ended questions with children or a language learner to stimulate their thinking and you will improve their language skills
Step 7. Ask questions that encourage people to talk
Conversation is an art that makes other people difficult. Talking to people you don't know can be scary, but open-ended questions can help others talk.
Step 8. Ask exploratory questions
Open-ended questions can be exploratory. There are two different methods of asking such questions:
- To clarify. If you ask an open-ended question that results in a generic answer, ask another question that clarifies the first answer. For example, if you asked someone "Why do you like living here?" and the answer was "for the view", can you ask another question to clarify, like "What view?
- For completeness. Once you have received a complete and clear answer to your question, you can ask others to know more information. Some examples of these questions are "What else do you like?" or "What other reasons did you have?"
- Don't use questions like "Is there anything else you want to say?" This is a closed-ended question, which can receive a simple "no".
Step 9. Stimulate creativity
One of the results of open-ended questions is creativity. Some types of open-ended questions have answers that encourage people to expand the boundaries of their thinking.
- Some open-ended questions require foresight. Questions like "Who will win the election?" or "What impact will the election of this candidate have on the politics of the country?" require to foresee possible scenarios.
- These questions can make people consider the consequences. By asking someone "What would happen if …" or "what would happen if you …", you are inviting them to think about the causes and effects of a given scenario.
Step 10. Try asking yourself some open-ended questions
This will make the conversation more balanced and help you join a discussion without always having to ask questions. To get someone to ask you questions, try not to talk about all the details of a story or opinion right away.
Step 11. Make sure you listen
Asking the right questions is useless if you don't listen. In some cases our fault is to formulate the following question without paying attention to the answer of the first. You'll miss out on great opportunities for follow-up questions if you don't listen. Make an effort to listen to the answer to the question you asked.
Warnings
- A person who is uncomfortable with your open-ended questions, or does not understand where you are going, or does not want to answer. You can try to give some explanation about it. If you continue to feel uncomfortable, it may be that the answer is personal or that you don't want to go deeper into the topic you want to know about.
- Open-ended questions may produce long and boring answers. If you want shorter and more relevant answers, be specific in formulating your questions.
