Open questions, in the context of linguistics and communication, refer to questions that are designed to encourage a detailed, expansive, or thoughtful response. Unlike closed questions, which typically aim for specific, brief answers (often "yes" or "no"), open questions invite the respondent to share more information, opinions, feelings, or thoughts.
These questions are often used in interviews, surveys, and casual conversations to promote deeper discussion and understanding. They typically begin with words like "how," "why," "what," or phrases such as "tell me about" or "describe."
Examples of open questions include:
"How did you feel about that experience?" - This question prompts the respondent to explore and articulate their feelings in detail.
"What are your thoughts on this topic?" - This invites the respondent to share their opinions or ideas, allowing for a wide range of responses.
"Why did you decide to pursue this career?" - The use of "why" seeks an explanation, encouraging the respondent to provide reasoning or motivation behind their choice.
Open questions are valuable for gathering qualitative information, fostering dialogue, and understanding the perspectives and experiences of others. They are a key tool in effective communication, allowing for a more engaging and in-depth exchange of ideas.
Our data indicates that users typically ask a significantly higher ratio of closed questions than they think they do, and that the simple act of being aware of this precedes impressively fast transformation in communication style.