Open-ended questions cannot be answered with "yes," "no" or a specific piece of information. Instead, they provide a range for the person answering to give whatever they deem to be an appropriate answer. Sometimes, open-ended questions are simply statements that demand a response. They are sometimes called "infinite response" or "unsaturated-type questions." Closed-ended questions, on the other hand, can be answered with "yes," "no," or a specific piece of information. Multiple-choice questions are also closed-ended.
Open-ended questions may not lead to a satisfying answer. Sometimes the answer to an open-ended question is rambling or incoherent, and does not provide the answer the questioner is looking for. Responses to open-ended questions are often lengthy. There are, however, advantages to open-ended questions. Open-ended questions provide more space for the person being questioned to say what they feel. They can lead to a more personal exchange, help establish trust and often provide an opportunity for the person being questioned to show their comfort level or knowledge in a particular field.
Closed-ended questions may be fruitless if the person being questioned does not know the answer to whatever she is being asked, or if the person being questioned does not comprehend the question. In addition, if used inappropriately, he can offend the person being questioned or ruin trust, and the person being questioned may get suspicious of why the questioner is asking. However, closed-ended questions help a questioner get a fast answer to a particular question. They can be specific and provide specific answers.
What was it like growing up in a single-parent household?
How did that make you feel?
Why do you think you acted that way?
Why do you like mayonnaise so much?
Talk a little bit about what the song "Hurricane" means to you.