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Asking open questions is a valuable skill in communication that can lead to deeper conversations, greater understanding, and enhanced problem-solving. Unlike closed questions that only require a yes or no answer, open questions encourage the respondent to provide more detailed and thoughtful responses. Whether you want to engage in meaningful discussions, gain insights from others, or simply show genuine interest, mastering the art of asking open questions is essential. In this guide, we will explore the importance of open questions, provide examples of different types of open questions, and offer tips on how to effectively incorporate them into your conversations. By the end, you will have a toolkit of techniques that will elevate your communication skills and help you foster stronger connections with others.
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Asking questions is a basic method of gathering information. However, like everything else, you need to have the skills to ask questions. Asking open-ended questions is a friendly way to maintain a conversation with people. Knowing the difference between open and closed questions will be very helpful to you in your work and social life.
Steps
Understanding open-ended questions
- “What happened after I left?”
- “Why did Nam leave before Russia?”
- “Tell me about your day at work.”
- “What do you think of this new season of the TV show?”
- “Who will you choose?”
- “What brand of car are you using?”
- “Have you talked to Thang yet?”
- “Did Russia come back with Nam?”
- “Did everyone finish the cake?”
- Closed questions will bring the conversation to a dead end. They don’t keep people going into details, talking about themselves, or providing additional information to the questioner.
- They cause the respondent to pause and think.
- The answer will not contain information about the event but feelings, opinions or ideas about a certain topic.
- When using open-ended questions, control of the conversation shifts to the respondent, which initiates an exchange between two people. If control is still solely with the questioner, you are already using a closed question. This technique will make the conversation feel more like an interview or interrogation. [3] X Research Sources
- Avoid using questions that have the following characteristics: lead to answers that contain factual information; easy to answer; and answers are given quickly with little or no thought. [4] X Research Source The questions that bring up the above are closed-ended questions.
- Open-ended questions begin with the following words: why, how, what, explain, tell about, or what do you think about…
- Although “tell about” is not a question form, the results are the same as when asking an open-ended question.
- Closed questions also have their own style of language. If you want to avoid asking closed-ended questions, don’t use the following phrases: is that…no, is…no, isn’t…well, do you…no.
Use open-ended questions
- Don’t use closed questions when you want a meaningful answer. These questions can bring a conversation to a standstill. Answers containing only one word are unlikely to help you successfully build a conversation or a relationship.
- Use open-ended questions when you want a detailed explanation to further develop the conversation.
- Use open-ended questions to expand a conversation after you’ve used closed-ended questions to get information or get a brief answer. Take this information or short answer, and build on that, continue to build the conversation using open-ended questions. [5] X Research Sources
- If you’re setting up a date for a friend, you might be asking, “What do you look for in a person?” They will probably point out physical traits when you want to ask about personality. Instead, ask a specific, informative question: “What qualities do you look for in a person?”
- If you’re trying to get the person to be more open to open-ended questions, try narrowing the question first, then expanding once they’ve gotten the hang of the conversation. [8] X Research Source A good example is when talking to children. You might ask, “How was school today?”. The answer will be: “Normal!”. Ask: “What homework have you been given?”. Thus, the story will continue.
- Ask “why” or “how” to elicit and get a longer answer after asking a closed question.
- When they have finished, ask an open-ended question that references or relates to what they just said. This will keep the story flowing in an open and engaging way.
- Ask these questions to learn more about a person. Many times, open-ended questions encourage people to talk about themselves. By asking open-ended questions, you can continue to learn more about the person.
- These questions can show concern, empathy, or concern for the other person. Open-ended questions often yield more personal and complex answers. By asking “How are you feeling” or “Why are you crying?”, you are encouraging the person to share their feelings with you. And the question “Are you okay?” only make them answer “Yes” or “No”.
- Ask open-ended questions to spark a conversation with quiet, shy, or newcomers. [9] X Research Sources This can help them feel secure and encourage them to open up.
- Use open-ended questions to avoid pressuring, confusing, or influencing someone’s answer. Most open-ended questions are very neutral. The wording of closed-ended questions can make people feel pressured to answer a certain way. [10] X Research Source For example, a leading question would be “Do you think that dress is beautiful?”, while an open-ended question would be “How do you think that dress?”. Parts with tails like “right?” can make a question leading, suggesting that people agree with you. Stop using them with open-ended questions.
- Be careful not to ask people questions that are too personal or cause them to give out too much personal information. Estimate the respondents’ comfort level. If you ask a question that is too personal, ask another question that is less personal.
- Open-ended questions also encourage subtle language skills. You can use open-ended questions with children or new language learners to help stimulate their thinking and improve language skills. [11] X Research Source
- Ask for clarification. If you ask an open-ended question and get a general answer, ask one more open-ended question to clarify the point. For example, if you ask “Why do you like living here” and he says “because of the beautiful scenery”, you can ask another question to clarify such as: “What beautiful scenery?”.
- Ask questions to complete the information. Once a complete and clear answer has been given to an open-ended question, you can ask a few more questions to get more information. An example of a complete information question is “What else would you like?” or “What other reasons do you have?” [12] X Research Source
- Don’t use the question “What else?”. This is a closed question, and you may only get a “No” answer.
- Some open-ended questions require anticipation. Questions like “Who will win the election” or “What impact will this candidate have on us?” prompting people to raise potential situations.
- These questions sometimes cause people to consider the outcome. By asking “What if…” or “What if…”, you are encouraging them to think about the cause and effect of a given situation. [13] X Research Source
Warning
- The people who get annoyed with answering open-ended questions are those who don’t understand what you’re going to do with their information, or they really don’t want to answer. Can you explain a little more to them. If they still refuse, maybe the answer is too personal, or they don’t want to delve into your topic.
- Open-ended questions can lead to long and boring answers. If you want them to be more concise and relevant, ask questions specifically.
wikiHow is a “wiki” site, which means that many of the articles here are written by multiple authors. To create this article, 47 people, some of whom are anonymous, have edited and improved the article over time.
There are 9 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 139,896 times.
Asking questions is a basic method of gathering information. However, like everything else, you need to have the skills to ask questions. Asking open-ended questions is a friendly way to maintain a conversation with people. Knowing the difference between open and closed questions will be very helpful to you in your work and social life.
In conclusion, asking open questions is a valuable skill that can greatly enhance communication and foster meaningful conversations. By utilizing open questions, we can encourage others to think deeply, share their thoughts and experiences, and establish a strong connection. Remember to focus on asking questions that begin with words like “what,” “how,” or “why” to enable open-ended responses. Practice active listening, maintain an open mind, and create a safe and non-judgmental environment for open questioning. As we continue to develop our questioning abilities, we will unlock new perspectives, broaden understanding, and enrich our relationships with others. So, let us embrace the power of open questions and embark on a journey of discovery and growth through thoughtful and engaging conversations.
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