TOPIC 3: Using open and closed questions

The purpose of open and closed questions:

• Closed questions ask for a one-word answer, typically a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer
• Closed questions can be vital in an emergency, for example “Did she take all the pills?”
• Closed questions begin with the prefix do, does, did, has, have, are you, may I, should you, will you, is that, were you, shall we, might I
• Open questions however ask for explanations, understanding, ideas, reflection
• Open questions encourage conversations to flow, people to open-up and ideas to generate
• Always try to start your question with an open question, for example, who, what, where, when, how, tell me more etc. Remember be a curious cow