{"id":831495,"date":"2018-09-26T22:35:42","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T05:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.questionpro.com\/blog\/cosa-sono-le-domande-a-risposta-aperta\/"},"modified":"2025-07-31T15:27:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T22:27:22","slug":"cosa-sono-le-domande-a-risposta-aperta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.questionpro.com\/blog\/it\/cosa-sono-le-domande-a-risposta-aperta\/","title":{"rendered":"Domande a risposta aperta: Esempi e vantaggi"},"content":{"rendered":"

When <\/span>designing surveys<\/span>, we often need to describe whether to use open-ended questions versus closed-ended questions to get specific information. Yet we need to be aware that open-ended and closed-ended questions have their strengths and weaknesses and perform in different ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

Open-ended are those questions that a sender makes to encourage one or several receivers to obtain some information in response. For example: Where is my wallet?<\/p>\n

Open-Ended Questions: Definition<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Open-ended questions are free-form <\/span>survey questions<\/span> that allow and encourage respondents to answer in open-text format to answer based on their complete knowledge, feeling, and understanding. The detailed response to this question is not limited to a set of options.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike a <\/span>closed-ended question <\/span>that leaves survey responses limited and narrow to the given options, an open-ended question<\/a> allows you to probe deep into the respondent\u2019s detailed answers, gaining valuable information about the subject or project. The responses to these <\/span>qualitative re<\/span>s<\/span>earch questions<\/span> can be used to attain detailed and descriptive information on a subject.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are an integral part of <\/span>Qualitative Market Research<\/span>. This <\/span>research <\/span>process depends heavily on open and subjective questions and answers on a given topic of discussion or conversation, with room for further probing by the researcher based on the answer given by the respondent. In a typical scenario, closed-ended questions are used to gather <\/span>qualitative data<\/span> from respondents.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Examples of Open-Ended Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Respondents like open-ended questions as they get 100% control over what they want to respond to, and they don\u2019t feel restricted by the limited number of options. The beauty of the process is that there can never be a one-word answer. They\u2019ll either be in the form of lists, sentences or something longer like speech\/paragraph.<\/p>\n

So, to understand this more, here are some open-ended question examples:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Examples<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Interview method<\/span>: How do you plan to use your existing skills to improve organizational growth, if hired by the company?<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Customer-facing: Please describe a scenario where our online marketplace helps a person make day-to-day purchases in daily life.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Technical: Can you please explain the back-end Javascript code template used for this webpage or blog post?<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Demographic: What is your age? (asked without survey options)<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Personal \/ Psychographic: How do you typically deal with stress and anxiety in your life?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In a study conducted by Pew Research, respondents were asked, \u201cWhat mattered most to you while deciding how you voted for president?\u201d One group was asked this question in a close-ended question format, while the other was asked in an open-ended one. The results are displayed below:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"open-ended-question\"<\/p>\n

    In the close-ended questions format, 58% of respondents chose \u201cThe economy\u201d. In the other format, only 35% wrote an answer that indicated \u201cThe economy.\u201d Note that only 8% of respondents selected \u201cOther\u201d in the format of the close-ended question. With an open-ended format, 43% of respondents wrote in a response that would have been categorized as \u201cOther.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Open-Ended Questions vs Close Ended Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Open-ended questions motivate the respondents to put their feedback into words without restricting people\u2019s thoughts. They aren\u2019t as objective and dominant as close-ended questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    \n

    Close-Ended Questions <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

    		\n

    Open-Ended Questions <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Do you like working with us?\n
      \n
    • Yes <\/span><\/li>\n
    • No <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
    		Tell us about your experience with our organization so far.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Have you been stressed lately?\n
      \n
    • Yes <\/span><\/li>\n
    • Unsure <\/span><\/li>\n
    • No<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
    		Share with us what has been troubling you.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    How satisfied are you with your current job role?\n
      \n
    • Very satisfied <\/span><\/li>\n
    • Somewhat satisfied <\/span><\/li>\n
    • Somewhat unsatisfied<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Very unsatisfied <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
    		What do you expect from this appraisal?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    By using these leading questions, the researcher understands the respondents\u2019 true feelings. They have an element that will give you information about different thought processes across your clientele, troubleshooting suggestions, and getting a peek into their inhibitions too.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The open-ended and closed-ended questions are different tasks for respondents. In the open-ended task, respondents write down what is readily available in their minds. In the close-ended question task, respondents focus their \u201cattention on specific responses chosen by the investigator” (Converse and Presser, 1986).<\/li>\n
    2. Asking the same question in these two different formats will almost always produce different results. Many investigators have demonstrated this over several decades.<\/li>\n
    3. Few respondents are going to select the \u201cOther\u201d category and enter responses that are different from the answer choices that are listed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      So what does this mean for us? If you can, do <\/span>qualitative research<\/span> first and ensure your close-ended questions represent the items in people\u2019s heads. We need the list of items to be complete since few respondents will select the \u201cOther\u201d category. It may also be necessary to list items not readily available to respondents if they are important to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"closeConsider doing split-sample studies where half of the respondents see the question in the open-ended format while the other half see the question for feedback in the format of the close-ended questions.<\/p>\n

      When <\/span>presenting results<\/span>, I have found it helpful to explain the fundamental differences between open-ended and closed-ended question examples in a sentence or two. It helps them understand that these are not necessarily precise measurements but measurements that require some interpretation relative to other questions in the survey and additional information from steps in qualitative research. Hence, that is why they need an analyst like you or me!<\/span><\/p>\n

      Why Use Open-Ended Questions?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
        \n
      1. \n

        Unrestricted Opinions:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        The customers need a platform to voice their opinions without limits on the answers. Happy or unhappy. As answer options for questions aren\u2019t provided, the respondent has the liberty to include details about good life, feelings, attitudes, and views that they usually wouldn\u2019t get to submit in single word answers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      2. \n

        Creative Expression:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        These questions are more appreciative of the respondents than close-ended questions as users aren\u2019t expected to just \u201cfill\u201d them out for the sake of it.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      3. \n

        Spellbinding Vision and Creativity:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        Respondents may stun you with the vision and creativity they show with their more detailed answers. Links to their blogs or a verse or two of their poetry will leave you spellbound.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      4. \n

        Embracing Freedom of Response:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        If there are only close-ended questions in a microsurvey, the users usually get disconnected and fill it out without giving it much thought. With the kind of freedom that open-ended questions offer, users can respond the way they\u2019d like to, be it the number of words or the details or the tone of the message.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      5. \n

        Driving Marketing and Innovation:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        These responses may be marketing tips for improving the organization\u2019s branding or some creative ideas that can lead to monetary gains in future.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      6. \n

        Tackling Complexity:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        Knotty situations need more than just a mere Yes\/No feedback. Single-select or multiple choice questions cannot do justice to the detail process or scrutiny required for some critical and complex situations.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      7. \n

        Exploring Feedback and Troubles:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        These questions work best in situations where the respondents are expected to explain their feedback or describe the troubles they\u2019re facing with the products.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      8. \n

        Unveiling Customer Insights:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        You can learn from your respondents. The open-ended questions offer the freedom to these respondents to be vocal about their opinion that would be insightful for a company.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      9. \n

        Revealing Thought Patterns:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        Respondent logic, thoughts, language, and reference choices can be known from these questions that can reveal a lot about how the respondent\u2019s brain functions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Always think before designing a survey as to what your objective is. Scrutinize the purpose, evaluate the positives and negatives of using an open or closed answer for your research study. Try it by sending out to a selected database, analyzing the results, and planning improvements for the next round of surveys.<\/p>\n

        How to Ask an Open-Ended Question?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        Everything easy or complicated requires competence. Asking the right question is also one such thing that requires capabilities. Capability to understand and segment the target <\/span>audience<\/span>, determine the kind of questions that will work well with that audience, and determine the efficiency of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Here are four ways to create effective open-ended questions:<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n

          Understand the difference between open-ended question and closed-ended question:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

          Before you start putting questions to paper, you need to have absolute clarity on open-ended vs <\/span>closed<\/span>–<\/span>ended questions<\/span>. Your objective of sending out an <\/span>online survey<\/span> should be clear, and based on that, you can evaluate the kind of questions you would want to use. These are usually used where the feelings and feedback of the customer are highly valued. To receive 100% transparent feedback on these questions, make sure that you don\u2019t lead the respondents with your questions and give them complete liberty to fill in whatever they want.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        2. \n

          Create a list of open-ended questions before curating the survey:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

          Once you get clarity on what are open-ended questions and how to implement them, figure out a list of <\/span>survey questions<\/span> that you\u2019d want to use. First, you can have a fair share of open-ended questions in your survey, which can fluctuate depending on your responses.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Examples of open-ended questions like these are extremely popular and give you more value-added insights:<\/span><\/p>\n