IntroductionWhen conducting usability studies or field studies, it’s a great idea to ask lots of open-ended questions. Typically, researchers ask questions before, during, and after research sessions. It’s easy to focus on what you want to know rather than on how you ask, but the way you ask questions matters a lot in terms of what and how much you can discover. You can learn unexpected and important things with this easy technique. Show Definition Open-ended questions are questions that allow someone to give a free-form answer. Closed-ended questions can be answered with “Yes” or “No,” or they have a limited set of possible answers (such as: A, B, C, or All of the Above). Closed-ended questions are often good for surveys, because you get higher response rates when users don’t have to type so much. Also, answers to closed-ended questions can easily be analyzed statistically, which is what you usually want to do with survey data. However, in one-on-one usability testing, you want to get richer data than what’s provided from simple yes/no answers. If you test with 5 users, it’s not interesting to report that, say, 60% of users answered “yes” to a certain question. No statistical significance, whatsoever. If you can get users to talk in depth about a question, however, you can absolutely derive valid information from 5 users. Not statistical insights, but qualitative insights. How to Ask Open-Ended Questions
Why Asking Open-Ended Questions Is ImportantThe most important benefit of open-ended questions is that they allow you to find more than you anticipate: people may share motivations that you didn’t expect and mention behaviors and concerns that you knew nothing about. When you ask people to explain things to you, they often reveal surprising mental models, problem-solving strategies, hopes, fears, and much more. Closed-ended questions stop the conversation and eliminate surprises: What you expect is what you get. (Choose your favorite ice cream: vanilla, strawberry, or chocolate.) When you ask closed-ended questions, you may accidentally limit someone’s answers to only the things you believe to be true. Worse, closed-ended questions can bias people into giving a certain response. Answers that you suggest can reveal what you are looking for, so people may be directly or indirectly influenced by the questions. Don’t ask, “Does this make sense?” Ask, “How does this work?” and listen closely to discover how well the design communicates its function. Note users’ word choices, because it might help to use their terms in the interface. TipsStart open questions with “how” or with words that begin with “w,” such as “what,” “when,” “where,” “which,” and “who.” Don’t start questions with “was” (an exception to the “w” tip) or other forms of the verbs “to be” and “to do.” In general, avoid “why” questions, because human nature leads people to make up a rational reason even when they don’t have one. We normally ask “why” only about ratings, to tease out more open-ended feedback. Say “Please tell me more about that,” instead. Aim to collect stories instead of one- or two-word answers. Even when you must ask closed-ended questions, you can ask an open-ended question at the end, such as, “What else would you like to say about that?” Adding Other __________ to a set of multiple-choice answers is also a good way to get open-ended feedback. When to Ask Open-Ended Questions
When To Ask Closed-Ended Questions
Bottom LineWhenever possible, it’s best to ask open-ended questions so you can find out more than you can anticipate. Test your questions by trying to answer them with yes or no, and rewrite those to find out more about how and what. In some cases, you won’t be able to accommodate free-form or write-in answers, though, and then it is necessary to limit the possibilities. What is an example of a closedClose-ended questions are question formats that provoke a simple response from a respondent. They are designed such there isn't much thought into the single word answer. An example of a close ended question is, “Are you hungry?”. Individuals generally enjoy talking about themselves.
What are the 3 types of closed questions?Closed-ended questions come in a multitude of forms, including: multiple choice, drop down, checkboxes, and ranking questions. Each question type doesn't allow the respondent to provide unique or unanticipated answers, but rather, choose from a list of pre-selected options.
Which is an example of a closedA closed-ended question can be answered in a short or single-word answer. They are used to obtain facts and specific pieces of information. Examples of closed-ended questions are: "Who will you choose?"
What are closedClosed-ended questions can be answered with “Yes” or “No,” or they have a limited set of possible answers (such as: A, B, C, or All of the Above). Closed-ended questions are often good for surveys, because you get higher response rates when users don't have to type so much.
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