My post, Mentoring - Use Open Ended Questions To Combat Generalizations has attracted quite a bit of interest.
What Type Of Question Is Best?
The purpose of the question and the situation w
ill determine the type of question you ask. if you require a specific answer from a closed question or more information from an open ended question.
Closed Questions
A closed question such as "Did Mary finish that task?" has limited options for answering, such as a yes or no answer, or a correct or incorrect answer.
Open Ended Questions
An open ended question leaves options for further information or discussion. "How is Mary going with that task?"
Open Ended Questions Used In Diverse Settings
The interesting thing is that much of the interest in my articles has come from the non business sector. Searches indicate readers from a diverse range of backgrounds.
From Helping Professions To Business
They were looking for information on open ended questions in areas such as social work, business banking and teaching. This doesn't surprise me as open ended questions can be and are used in any setting.
Mentors, coaches, teachers, social workers, doctors, counsellors, interviewers, police, supervisors, employers, leaders, pastors and parents are just a few who use open ended questions.
Think About Your Own Questioning Techniques
Next time you ask or are asked a question, take a moment to consciously consider whether it is a closed question or an open question.
Is it the best type of questioning technique for the purpose?
I ran into this problem a little while ago while I was trying to come up with my big list of blog review questions, Yvonne. I opted for open-ended questions as much as possible because they encouraged more discussion and analysis.
Posted by: Easton Ellsworth | December 7, 2007 2:56 PM | Permalink to Comment