Open questions: definition and 40 practical examples

You have probably heard of the existence of open-ended questions, whether in tests, surveys or job interviews.

In this article we explain the definition and 40 examples of open questions, so you can use them to find out more about someone or get their opinion on a topic.

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What are open questions?

Open questions are those interrogations in which the answer is free and without limitations. That is to say, the answer that is sought when asking that question is not a simple yes or no, but rather a more extensive and elaborate answer 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 person questioned.

Open questions are used to obtain more information about the opinion or experience of the person questioned, who will be able to offer a detailed and in-depth answer on the subject of the question. They are also

useful to measure the knowledge of the person in any area, so they are widely used in the school and academic environment.

Other areas in which these types of questions are used are job interviews, in journalism interviews and in customer satisfaction surveys.

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40 examples of open questions

Below 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 questions You will find personal, current, educational or job interview questions.

1. How are you?

This is one of the simplest examples of open questions that we use the most in our day to day life, which helps us to know more about the other person.

2. What would you like to do now?

With this kind of question we are leaving freedom of response to the person questioned, because it does not ask for anything specific.

3. What are your plans for this weekend?

The same goes for 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 at this moment?

Another example of an open question is this, in which we ask how you subjectively perceive your current state.

5. how does it make you feel?

This is another of the most widely 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 concrete question, however allows the person to respond extensively to state the reason for your choice.

7. How would you describe your family?

And in this other question, a descriptive and elaborate answer 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 questions like this help us get elaborate and insightful answers on a topic.

10. Why do you think you are right?

They are also ideal for soliciting arguments from the person being questioned.

11. What do you think about the current political landscape?

That is why they are very suitable to ask about the opinion that the person may have on any type of subject.

12. What steps would you take to end pollution?

They are also very suitable so that in the educational field, students can present and elaborate their approaches.

13. How does social security benefit us?

These types of questions are also very useful to start discussions, since they look for the argumentation on some subject and allow the interlocutor to extend in his answer.

14. What do you think about drug use?

Open questions seek above all the personal opinion of the person being asked.

15. Why do you think your team lost?

Unlike closed questions, these types of questions allow a long and elaborate answer.

16. How do you think robotics will evolve?

They help us to ask deeper questions, on which you 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?

These types of open questions are also widely used to question deep and complex issues.

19. Why do good and evil exist?

This is an example question that intends delve into a complex issue, and whose answer must be elaborated.

20. What aspects of our society would you change?

They are very suitable for inviting the questioned person to reflect.

21. 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 question that could be used in an exam.

22. What would you do instead?

Unlike closed questions, it is not asked about 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 can be.

24. How would you describe this work?

With questions like this a long and descriptive answer is sought above all, which provides the more information the better.

25. Why is this author so influential?

They are widely used to measure knowledge on a subject, in which the person asked explains everything he knows.

26. What is this book about?

As these are not specific questions, the person is expected to come up with a long and detailed answer.

27. Why did you like this reading?

And again, we see how it is used above all so that the other person reaches out when it comes to giving their opinion about something.

28. Why does this movie deserve to win the Oscar?

This kind of question they are very useful to work the ability to argue.

29. What do you think about the end of this series?

By taking into account subjective opinion, 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 to evaluate the person himself, measure his argumentation and ask for justification.

31. Why do you think we should hire you?

These are some examples of open-ended questions that may arise in job interviews, where they are widely used.

32. What has been the worst experience in his previous job?

These types of questions allow you to better know the person who is opting for a workplace.

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.

34. Why did he leave his last job?

These types of questions in job interviews expect a long and elaborate answer from the person being questioned.

35. What would his ideal job be like?

The answer to this type of question must be extensive and detailed., to provide the more information the better.

36. How would you describe yourself?

They are very useful for situations where a descriptive answer is required.

37. What are its main qualities?

That is why they serve to better know the person interviewed.

38. What has he learned in his professional career?

Unlike closed questions, these are questions that do not specify and give freedom of answer to the interlocutor.

39. Why are you interested in this job?

Open questions like this seek the subjective opinion or 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 recruitment.

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