Closed-ended questions ask participants to choose from a distinct set of predefined answer choices. Similar to open-ended questions, closed-ended also have their pros and cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Take less time and effort to answer | Participants may be frustrated if their desired answer is not among the choices |
| Generate data that is easier to compare | Participants’ interpretations of the answer options may differ |
| Easier to analyze since responses are in pre-set and quantifiable categories | Limited options sometimes force respondents to give simplistic answers to complex issues |
| Clearer to participants because response options can sometimes clarify the question’s meaning | More response choices may make a question more confusing to answer |
Closed-ended questions include both “yes/no” questions and multiple choice questions. While you may already have a sense of the characteristics of closed-ended questions, it’s helpful to be familiar with some of the different options you have for designing them. The slides below detail definitions and examples of dichotomous questions (yes/no) as well as some of the various types of multiple choice questions.
Check the next page to learn about how to turn your open- and closed-ended questions into high quality questions.
