Coastal Services Center

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Structuring Questions

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There are two different types of questions you can use that will elicit very different responses. These two types are called open-ended and closed questions.

Open-ended questions are used when longer and more thoughtful answers are required. Typically these questions:

• Ask the interviewee to think and reflect
• Will provide the questioner with opinions and feelings

	Open Ended Question Example		Describe two examples of interpreting results of your research for coastal management applications.

 

Closed questions are typically those that can be answered with one word. For example, "Yes/No" questions are closed questions. These questions are useful for testing comprehension and when long essay answers are not required. Typically these questions:

• Provide facts
• Are easy to answer
• Can be answered quickly.

	Closed Question Example		What methods have you utilized in the past year to interpret the results of your research for coastal managers? (Check all that apply) Workshops Field demonstrations Interpretive materials (signs, exhibits) Posters at professional conferences Presentations at meetings