It is likely that you have heard about the existence of open questions, whether in exams, surveys or job interviews.
In this article we explain the definition and 40 examples of open-ended questions, so you can use them to find out more about someone or know their opinion on a topic.
What are open-ended questions?
Open questions are those interrogations in which the answer is free and without limitationsIn other words, the answer sought when asking this question is not a simple yes or no, but a more extensive and elaborate response is expected from the interlocutor.
Unlike closed questions, whose answers are specific and limited, in open questions there is a lot of freedom to deepen the answer and the extension limit is set by the interrogated person himself.
Open-ended questions are used to obtain more information about the opinion or experience of the person questioned, who can offer a detailed and in-depth answer on the subject of the question. They are also useful for measuring a person's knowledge in any area, which is why they are widely used in schools and academics.
Other areas in which this type of question is used are job interviews, journalism interviews and customer satisfaction surveys.
40 examples of open questions
Here we show you examples of open questions, which can help you to better understand the concept, to learn more about someone, to find out their opinion on a fact or to measure their knowledge on a topic.
In this list of 40 open-ended questions you will find personal, current, educational or job interview questions.
one. How are you?
This is one of the simplest examples of open questions that we use the most in our daily lives, which helps us to find out more about the other person.
2. What would you like to do now?
With this type of question we are leaving freedom of response to the person questioned, since they are not asking for anything specific.
3. What are your plans for this weekend?
The same thing happens with this other open and personal question, which can have all kinds of answers depending on what the interlocutor wants.
4. How would you describe your life right now?
Another example of an open question is this, in which we ask you how you subjectively perceive your current state.
5. How does it make you feel?
This is another of the most used open questions in psychology, as it allows the person to express their emotions openly.
6. Why did you choose this career?
This question is about a specific issue, however allows the person to answer at length to explain the reason for their choice.
7. How would you describe your family?
And in this other question a descriptive and elaborate response is expected from the interlocutor.
8. What would your ideal partner be like?
In the same way, this question is also used for descriptions, so the answer must be detailed.
9. What goal do you have in life?
Open-ended questions like this one help us to get elaborate and in-depth answers on a topic.
10. Why do you think you are right?
They are also ideal for asking the questioned person for arguments.
eleven. What do you think about the current political landscape?
That is why they are very suitable for asking about the opinion that the person may have on any type of topic.
12. What measures would you take to end pollution?
They are also very suitable for students to present and develop their ideas in the educational field.
13. How does social security benefit us?
These types of questions are also very useful for starting debates, since they seek argumentation on a topic and allow the interlocutor to expand on your answer.
14. What do you think about drug use?
Open-ended questions seek above all the personal opinion of the person being asked.
fifteen. Why do you think your team lost?
Unlike closed questions, this type of question allows for a long and elaborate answer.
16. How do you think robotics will evolve?
They help us to raise deeper questions, on which we can reflect and start a discussion.
17. What does the word freedom mean to you?
Many of these questions expect the person being asked to express their opinions.
18. What is the meaning of life?
This type of open-ended questions are also widely used to ask questions about deep and complex topics.
19. Why do good and evil exist?
This is an example of a question that is intended to go deeper into a complex issue, and whose answer must be elaborated.
twenty. What aspects of our society would you change?
They are very suitable to invite the questioned person to reflect.
twenty-one. What events were decisive for the end of the war?
As we said, these are very useful questions in the academic field. This is an example of a question that could be used in a test.
22. What would you do instead?
Unlike closed questions, you do not ask for something specific, but rather the interlocutor is expected to elaborate the answer.
23. What is the art?
It is also an open question when we ask for the definition of a subject as complex as art.
24. How would you describe this work?
With questions like this above all, a long and descriptive answer is sought, which provides as much information as possible.
25. Why is this author so influential?
They are widely used to measure knowledge on a subject, in which the person asked exposes everything he knows.
26. What is this book about?
Since these are not specific questions, the person is expected to elaborate a long and detailed answer.
27. Why did you like this reading?
And again, we see how it is used especially for the other person to expand when it comes to giving her opinion about something.
28. Why does this film deserve to win an Oscar?
These types of questions are very useful for working on the ability to argue.
29. What do you think about the end of this series?
By taking subjective opinion into account, it is widely used in surveys where a product is valued.
30. Why do you deserve to pass this subject?
They are also a way of evaluating the person himself, measuring his argument and asking for justification.
31. Why do you think we should hire you?
These are some examples of open-ended questions that can arise in job interviews, where they are widely used.
32. What was the worst experience in your previous job?
This type of question allows you to get to know the person applying for a job better.
33. How would you solve this problem?
With them you can even find out if you have the capacity or ability that the position requires.
3. 4. Why did you leave your last job?
These types of questions in job interviews expect a long and elaborate response from the person being questioned.
35. What would your ideal job be like?
Answers to these types of questions must be extensive and detailed, to provide as much information as possible.
36. How would you describe yourself?
They are very useful for situations where a descriptive answer is required.
37. What are your main qualities?
That is why they serve to get to know the interviewee better.
38. What has she learned in her professional career?
Different from closed questions, these are questions that do not specify and give freedom of response to the interlocutor.
39. Why are you interested in this job?
Open-ended questions like this seek the opinion or subjective experience of the person being asked.
40. What could you contribute to this company?
That is why open questions are a great tool in job interviews or personnel selection.