100 Examples of Open and Closed Questions

Open and closed questions

The questions are those interpellations that an issuer makes to one or more receivers in order to obtain some information in response. For example: Where are my keys?

Depending on the expected response to the questions, closed questions and open questions can be differentiated.

Open questions

The Open questions They are those that allow the questioned person to answer what he wants, since no options are imposed on him from which he must choose his answer.

For example: What do you think about the economic reality of Argentina?

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Characteristics of open questions

Open questions then allow much longer answers to be obtained and without any type of conditioning on the part of the person who formulates them.

But in addition, they serve as a kick to start a conversation and to learn more about the interlocutor. Through these questions it is possible to know what is the position of the interlocutor on a subject, his proposals in this regard or details about any experience that you have lived related to the topic that is being addressing. Many times, even answers are received that were not even in mind when asking the questions, so they can be very enriching.

The disadvantage of open questions is that, in a survey, its processing and analysis can be much more complex, since for each respondent has a different answer, while in closed questions they can be tabulated almost automatically because the answers limited.

Examples of open questions

1. Why do you think the current city government should give more importance to education?
2. What do you think should be the priorities of the recently elected president?
3. How do you define the word discrimination?
4. What opinion does the current governor of the province deserve?
5. What did you think of Eduardo Galeano's latest book?
6. Why do you think "Birdman" was the winner of the Oscars?
7. At what age do you think a child should have his first cell phone?
8. How do you think the international context can influence the next elections?
9. Which team should win the World Cup?
10. Where do you think the next folklore festival should take place?
11. How important is the first impression when hiring someone?
12. Why do you think you are the one to fill this job?
13. If you could invite a famous person to lunch, who would it be?
14. Do you think that polls affect voters when choosing their candidates?
15. Should drug use be decriminalized for you?
16. How would you evaluate the last management of the club president?
17. In which city, anywhere in the world, would you like to live and why?
18. Is there something you have done in your life that you now regret? What and why?
19. If you could choose which company to work for, what would it be?
20. What do you think was the best Beatles album and why?
21. Who do you think will be the next president and how do you justify your answer?
22. How would you do a selection of personnel?
23. What questions would you ask your employer?
24. What do you think the next technology trends will be?
25. What companies do you think will have a greater boom this year and why?
26. Why do you think the first impression is so important?
27. What NLP techniques do you know? Do you apply them?
28. What learnings could you share from your previous work experiences?
29. How would you describe the crisis situation in Greece?
30. What do you think of the recent Panama Papers investigation, which succumbed to international politics?
31. What programming languages ​​do you use the most and why?
32. How would you go about organizing the event?
33. How would you plan a three-day business trip to our headquarters?
34. What TV shows do you watch regularly and why?
35. What is your criticism of sovereign debt bonds?
36. What do you think about the rising dollar in Argentina?
37. How would you fight inflation if you were in power?
38. What measures do you consider correct of the current national government and why?
39. What do you think about the use of hard drugs?
40. What extreme situations did you experience throughout your life?
41. How do you play dominoes, could you explain?
42. What were the best anecdotes from your trip to Asia?
43. What exotic foods did you try that you would not try again?
44. How do you define teamwork?
45. How must brainstorming be to be effective?
46. Which modern companies admire you and why?
47. What plans do you have for next year?
48. What kinds of goals do you constantly set yourself?
49. How would you describe your sporting life?
50. Which sports are healthier and why?

Closed questions

In closed questions the options to answer are limited since they are imposed by the interlocutor. It is very common that within a survey, the respondent comes across questions of both types. While in the case of the closed ones you will find a small list with the options that you can choose as an answer, in the open ones you will be offered some lines so that you can expatiate.

If the survey is done orally, the modality will be very similar: the interlocutor is offered a series of options or he is given a few seconds to express himself on the subject in question. In general, these questions are formulated with words such as who, when, what, where, why, how.

A example of closed question could be: If the elections were tomorrow, would you vote for the current president of the nation?. In this case, the following alternatives can be offered as an answer: Yes, no, don't know / don't answer.

Whereas an open question on the same topic could be: If the elections were tomorrow, who would you vote for as president of the nation and why?. In this case, the respondent could answer for anyone, even those who do not have the slightest intention of running for the mandate.

Examples of open questions

1. When did you arrive in the country?
2. Do you know how to drive cars?
3. Did you see the last Woody Allen movie?
4. Where your brothers live?
5. Will you come to work tomorrow?
6. You have exam tomorrow?
7. Did you study for the lesson?
8. Do you know a bar near my house?
9. How long is that wall?
10. How long have you known this news?
11. How long until you finish college?
12. How often should I feed the cat?
13. What color is the shirt you bought?
14. Do you like French fries?
15. Did you drink alcohol in the last hours?
16. Do you know who the new club president is?
17. Do you agree with my decision?
18. Will I be able to arrive on time if I go on a trip at 4:00 p.m.?
19. What time is the meeting?
20. What is the address of your new house like?
21. Do you need help with that?
22. What is 200 x 431?
23. Do you dare to be the host of the event?
24. Would you like to be part of this project?
25. Did you get mad at what I said?
26. Do you already know Carolina?
27. Have you ever worked in a position similar to this one?
28. Did the motor break back?
29. Is your cell phone of good quality?
30. Would you recommend that I go on vacation to that spa?
31. Are you willing to make this commitment?
32. Do you accept Joseph as your husband?
33. Do you want something to drink?
34. Did the documents arrive on time?
35. Is that motorcycle safe?
36. Did you eat well in that restaurant?
37. Do you know the story of Freddy Mercury?
38. Do you have any questions?
39. Would you like to accompany me to the presentation of the book?
40. Did you read the magazine I sent you?
41. Did you study for today?
42. You're warm?
43. Did the sun finally come out?
44. Do you feel better?
45. How many hours are there different from Madrid?
46. On what street is that bookstore you recommended?
47. In what year was your father's company created?
48. Did you send your CV to my brother-in-law?
49. Can you concentrate with the television on?
50. Do you like mussels?

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