Open-ended questions are those that invite deeper conversation by asking someone to think and say exactly what’s on his or her mind. They allow more information to be exchanged than a closed-ended question that seeks specific responses or details, such as yes and no, or facts and numbers. They convey curiosity and a desire to understand the individual, rather than judgment and expectation of certain answers. Interestingly, an open-ended question often sounds like a statement and begins with words like “Describe” or “Explain”. Let’s listen to some examples.
• Describe your eating habits for most days of the week.
• Tell me about your approach to offering education.