The Different Types of Questions

There are many different types of questions, but arguably the four basic types which fall into two common categories: closed and open.

Let’s drill down into the four types below.

Definitions of Closed and Open Questions

Closed questions confirm specific information you already (probably) know.

You’ll generally get three different types of answers from closed questions:

Yes/no
One-word answers
A number or figure

Because you likely know the answer, or at least you probably won’t be surprised by the answer, they typically are not insightful questions.

While they won’t be deep nor compelling, closed questions have great value. They give you and the respondent common ground to start. They clear-up any confusion, if not narrow the focus on the interview to a manageable area.

Best of all, closed questions are easy to answer. That’s why you should start with them in interviews. For those who need it, closed questions give the respondent a bit of self-confidence as the next questions will get more complex.

Open questions prompt the respondent to express their views, opinions, concerns or issues. Often, they ask questions about information you cannot find prior to the interview. The most complex open questions – Speculative – encourage the respondent to open up or lead to creative possibilities.

Where closed questions are easy to answer, open questions get increasingly more complex to answer.

Generally, do not start with broad open questions. It’s typically better for the respondent if you start easy and let the questions become naturally more detailed or thought provoking.

Open Questions Fall into Three Types

Open questions will always give you more insightful answers than closed questions.

Objective Questions ask about facts you can’t get elsewhere.
Subjective Questions ask about emotions, to get feelings and perspectives about a topic or issue, or opinions about facts. (Remember: ‘Facts persuade but emotional motivates,’ so emotional answers give you a clue to a person’s behaviours.)
Speculative Questions have the most creative potential because they encourage the respondent to brainstorm or use their imagination. They can be specifically or figurately ‘What if …’ questions. Also, be careful not to ask an unanswerable question. (‘What is love?’)

You may find it’s appropriate, polite or mandatory to provide your questions in advance. Particularly with open questions, allow the respondent time before the interview to consider their answers. Schedule ample time for the question and answer period if the first option isn’t feasible. If your interview runs for less time than planned, you can either end early, or use the extra time for conversation or more questions. Always consider how you’re going to take notes. (Whenever possible, I try to bring a second listener with me, if for no other reason than to take notes so I can focus on listening to the respondent.)

Examples of the Different Types of Questions

Here are examples and variations of closed questions to show how they can be turned into other, different types of questions.

Examples of Closed Questions – To confirm specific facts, with either one-word or short answers

Is it true that your company wants to move into five more countries by the end of the year?
How many countries do you operate in today?

Examples of Open/Objective Questions – To get objectivity on the facts

Why are these markets your priority for the next twelve months?
Why is Australia a key priority of your business development?

Examples of Closed Questions – To narrow from a broad topic to a specific focus

Which markets are your priority for the next twelve months?
What is the primary reason your customers were so positive about the new product range?

Examples of Open/Subjective Questions – To get personal feelings or perspective

Which market do you think will have the greatest long-term potential for your company?
Why do you think the media was cynical about the new product benefits?

Examples of Closed Questions – To clear up confusion

Are you going to discontinue your current line of software when (new product) launches in September?
Is it true that the recommended sales price of the new line of software will be just 10 percent higher than the current line of software?

Examples of Open/Speculative Questions – To provoke one’s thoughts, predict or speculate on a future event

- What would happen if both the old and new lines of software remained for sale?

What do you think the next line (after the new one) might offer to consumers in the future?

Click here for a PDF of the Closed vs Open Questions chart with some additional examples.

Four New Types of Questions?

Waaaay back in 2015, the Harvard Business Review featured on article Relearning the Art of Asking Questions which outlines four new types of questions, in addition to the four types above.

If you don’t have access to the article (as it’s quite old), here is a very brief re-cap.

Clarifying Qs try to uncover the real intent behind a statement of opinion. (Can you tell me more?)

Adjoining Qs explore related aspects of the situation or problem, perhaps t o help gain a better understanding (How would I apply this?)

Funnelling Qs dive deeper, to understand how something was decided, or to challenge assumptions, even to understand the root cause (How did you conduct the research?)

Elevating Qs go the opposite direction of Funnelling, and raise broader issues or focus on the big picture. (Let’s take a step back: what are the larger issues?)

Questions Are Their Own Category

Questions are important for a wide variety of reasons. Here’s a few other articles you may find useful.

This entire collection started with The Value of Questions.

One of the questions I constantly ask participants of my workshop: Where did you learn HOW to ask a question?

This link – What Makes a Good Question Good – outlines what attributes make a question useful or insightful, including the nine types of bad questions.

I love the simplicity of this article: 10 Reasons Why Questioning is Important.

Finally, you should always consider of thinking of your questions in advance. Here’s why.

What’s your experiences on writing and asking questions? Please add your thoughts and comments below.