Which statement best distinguishes open from closed questions?

Which statement best distinguishes open from closed questions?

• A. Open questions have fixed choices; closed questions allow any answer
• B. Open questions allow any answer; closed questions have fixed choices
• C. Open questions are always quantitative; closed questions are qualitative
• D. Open questions require no analysis

Answer: (B)

At the heart of distinguishing open from closed questions is whether the respondent can answer freely or must choose from predefined options. Open questions invite any answer in the participant’s own words, producing richer, often qualitative data. Closed questions constrain responses to fixed choices or scales, making data easier to compare and quantify. That’s why the statement that open questions allow any answer while closed questions have fixed choices is the best fit. The other options misrepresent the idea: open questions aren’t restricted to fixed choices; openness doesn’t guarantee quantitative data (they’re usually qualitative); and open questions still require analysis to interpret the responses.

At the heart of distinguishing open from closed questions is whether the respondent can answer freely or must choose from predefined options. Open questions invite any answer in the participant’s own words, producing richer, often qualitative data. Closed questions constrain responses to fixed choices or scales, making data easier to compare and quantify. That’s why the statement that open questions allow any answer while closed questions have fixed choices is the best fit. The other options misrepresent the idea: open questions aren’t restricted to fixed choices; openness doesn’t guarantee quantitative data (they’re usually qualitative); and open questions still require analysis to interpret the responses.