Navigate The Communication Resource Center

Communication General Questions Assertive Communication & Listening Practical Communication Techniques, Tips, and Advice Non-Verbal Communications Primer Communication That Creates Conflict - Eliminating Firestarters Overcoming Barriers to Communication Communicating With Groups and Public Speaking Communication, learning from goofs, gaffs, and oopsies!

What is Open Ended Questioning?

Open ended questioning is an easy to use communication skill you can use to encourage dialogue and discussion, and to enhance understanding. The use of questions that are open ended send a message to the other person that you are a) interested in them and b) want to share information and control of the conversation with them, rather than only send information and control things.

Basically, an open ended question is one that cannot be answered in a yes, or no fashion, or in a one word way. For example, "Why did you go to the store?" is open ended. On the other hand, "Did you go to the store" is not open-ended but is close-ended, because its obvious answer is either yes or no.

See also: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using open ended questions?