You’ve probably heard about the existence of open-ended questions at some time, whether on exams, in surveys or in job interviews.
In this article we explain the definition and 40 examples of open-ended questionsso you can use them to find out more about someone or get their opinion on a subject.
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What are open-ended questions?
Open-ended questions are those questions in which the answer is free and without limitations.. That is to say, the answer sought when asking such a question is not a simple yes or no, but a more extensive and elaborated answer is expected from the interlocutor.
Unlike closed questions, whose answers are specific and limited, in open-ended questions there is a great deal of freedom to delve deeper into the question. open-ended questions, there is a great deal of freedom to elaborate on the answer and the limit of extension is set by the person being questioned.
Open questions are used to obtain more information about the opinion or experience of the person being questioned, who will be able to offer a detailed and in-depth answer on the subject of the question. They are also useful to measure the person’s knowledge in any area, so they are in any area, which is why they are widely used in the school and academic environment.
Other areas in which this type of questions are used are job interviews, journalism interviews and customer satisfaction surveys.
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40 examples of open-ended questions
Below we show you examples of open-ended questions, which can help you to better understand the concept, to learn more about someone, to know their opinion about some fact or to measure their knowledge about some subject.
In this list of 40 open-ended questions you will find personal, current affairs, educational or job interview questions.
1. How are you?
This is one of the simplest examples of open-ended questions that we use the most in our daily lives, which helps us to find out more about the other person.
2. What would you like to do now?
With this type of question we are leaving freedom of response to the person being questionedThis type of question does not ask for anything specific.
3. What are your plans for this weekend?
The same goes for this other open-ended and personal question, which can have all kinds of answers depending on what the interlocutor wants.
4. How would you describe your life at this moment?
Another example of an open-ended question is this one, in which we ask you how you subjectively perceive your current state.
5. How does that make you feel?
This is another of the most commonly used open-ended questions in psychology, as it allows the person to express his or her emotions openly.
6. Why did you choose this career?
This question is about a specific issue, however, it allows the person to answer allows the person to answer extensively to explain the to explain the reason for his or her choice.
7. How would you describe your family?
And in this other question a descriptive and elaborated answer is expected from the interlocutor.
8. What would your ideal partner be like?
In the same way this question is also used for descriptions, so the answer has to be detailed.
9. What is your goal in life?
Open-ended questions like this one help us to elaborated and deep answers on a topic.
10. Why do you think you are right?
They are also ideal for soliciting arguments from the person being questioned.
11. What do you think about the current political situation?
This is why they are very appropriate for asking about the opinion that the person may have on any type of topic.
12. What measures would you take to put an end to pollution?
They are also very appropriate for students to present and elaborate their ideas in the educational field.
13. How does social security benefit us?
These types of questions are also very very useful for initiating debatesThey seek to argue about an issue and allow the interlocutor to expand on his or her answer.
14. What do you think about drug use?
Open-ended questions mainly seek the personal opinion of the person being asked.
15. Why do you think your team lost?
Unlike closed questions, this type of question allows for a long and elaborated answer.
16. How do you think robotics will evolve?
These questions allow us to pose more in-depth questionsWe can reflect on them and initiate a discussion.
17. What does the word freedom mean to you?
Many of these questions expect the person being asked to express his or her opinions.
18. What is the meaning of life?
This type of open-ended question is also very often used to question deep and complex issues.
19. Why do good and evil exist?
This is an example of a question that aims to to go deeper into a complex issueThe answer to this question needs to be elaborated.
20. What aspects of our society would you change?
They are very appropriate to invite the person being questioned to reflect.
21. What events were decisive for the end of the war?
As we said, these questions are very useful in the academic environment. This is an example of a question that could be used in an exam.
22. What would you do in their place?
Unlike closed questions, this one does not ask about something specific, but expects the interlocutor to elaborate the answer.
23. What is art?
This is also an open-ended question when we ask for a definition of such a complex subject as art.
24. How would you describe this work?
With questions like this we are mainly looking for a long and descriptive answer, providing as much information as possible.The more information the better.
25. Why is this author so influential?
They are very often used to measure knowledge on a certain subject, in which the person being asked explains everything he/she knows.
26. What is this book about?
Since these are not specific questions, the person is expected to elaborate a long and detailed answer.
27. Why did you like this reading?
And again, we see how this is used mainly to make the other person expand on his or her opinion about something.
28. Why does this movie deserve to win the Oscar?
This type of questions are very useful for working on argumentation skills..
29. What do you think about the ending of this series?
As it takes into account the subjective opinion, it is used a lot in surveys where a product is valued.
30. Why do you deserve to pass this subject?
They are also a way to evaluate one’s own person, measure one’s argumentation and ask for justification.
31. Why do you think we should hire you?
These are some examples of open examples of open-ended questions that may arise in job interviews, where they are widely used.These are some examples of open-ended questions that can come up in job interviews, where they are widely used.
32. What has been the worst experience in your previous job?
This type of question allows you to get to know the person who is applying for a job better.
33. How would you solve this problem?
With these questions you can even find out if you have the capacity or ability required for the position.
34. Why did you leave your last job?
This type of questions in job interviews expect a long and elaborated answer from the person being interviewed.
35. What would your ideal job be like?
The answer to this type of question should be extensive and detailed, to provide as much information as possible.to provide as much information as possible.
36. How would you describe yourself?
They are very useful for situations in which a descriptive answer is required.
37. What are their main qualities?
They serve to get to know the interviewee better.
38. What have you learned in your professional career?
Unlike the closed questions, these are questions that do not specify and give freedom to questions that do not specify and give freedom of response to the interlocutor. to the interlocutor.
39. Why are you interested in this job?
Open-ended questions like this seek the subjective opinion or experience of the person being asked.
40. What could you bring to this company?
This is why open-ended questions are a great tool in job interviews or personnel selection.
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