7 Benefits of Closed-ended Questions
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In this article we will look at the benefits of closed-ended questions. This article also explores what closed-ended questions are and what are their advantages and disadvantages.
7 Benefits of Closed-ended Questions
Here are a few benefits of closed-ended questions:
- Comparable responses
- They are easier to personalise
- They’re easier and faster to respond to
- Help eliminate the answers that aren’t relevant
- People are more likely to reply if they are given a choice
- Assist in the collection of quantifiable and numerical data
- With the use of answer options, you will gain a better insight
Comparable responses
Since clients have to choose from specified answer choices, the answers to these questions are easily comparable. You can quickly compare the responses of different demographic groups.
They are easier to personalise
Closed-ended questions are simple to reproduce and adapt to the changing needs of the situation. They can be tailored to the type of questionnaire, the type of company, the services and products it offers, and the level of response necessary, among other factors.
They’re easier and faster to respond to
Closed-ended questions can be answered quickly and efficiently because customers only need to choose one of the relevant answer choices. They don’t have to think too hard and can write their responses on their own terms.
Help eliminate the answers that aren’t relevant
Whenever open-ended questions are given, the possibilities of receiving irrelevant responses rise, making it more complicated to collect and interpret feedback data. Closed-ended questions, on the contrary, have predetermined specific answers from which to choose
People are more likely to reply if they are given a choice
People these days dread filling out time-consuming survey questionnaires due to a lack of time, but when they are given possible answers to pick from, they often fill out the form, resulting in a higher response rate.
Assist in the collection of quantifiable and numerical data
Whenever you need quantitative statistics, closed-ended questions are ideal since there will be a single set of answer choices and you can quickly determine the number of individuals who chose each choice.
With the use of answer options, you will gain a better insight
Many people may not fully comprehend the question, but as they consider the available response possibilities, they gain a better understanding of what has been asked.
What are Closed-ended Questions?
Closed-ended questions are those that can only be answered with a restricted number of options, such as multiple-choice, yes/no, or a rating system (e.g. from strongly agree to strongly disagree). Closed-ended questions provide minimal information, but they are straightforward to evaluate for quantitative data.
A closed-ended question is one in which the person is given a set of predetermined choices to pick from, such as Yes or No, a rating scale from 0 to 10, opinions ranging from Agree Strongly to Disagree Strongly, or a range of options, based on the context of the question.
Essentially, the person is not able to express his viewpoint in his own words and is limited to selecting one or more options from the available options.
You can use many kinds of survey questions while creating a survey. You have the option of asking closed-ended or open-ended questions. Each has their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Examples of Closed Ended Questions
Here are a few examples of closed-ended questions:
- Do you want some vanilla ice cream?
- What college did you attend?
- What do you consider to be your best quality?
- Do you like driving your car?
- Is your sibling interested in the same things as you are?
- Do you enjoy being around animals?
- Do you celebrate your birthday?
Closed-ended Question Benefits
Here are some more closed-ended question benefits:
- Respondents can respond more easily and quickly.
- It’s easier to compare the responses of different responders.
- Answers are simpler to record and analyse statistically.
- The answer options can help respondents understand the meaning of the question.
- People are more inclined to respond to questions on sensitive issues.
- There are lesser queries with unnecessary or perplexing answers.
- Respondents who are less articulate or educated are not at a disadvantage.
- Reproduction is much more simple.
Disadvantages of Closed-ended Questions
There are also some disadvantages that come with closed-ended questions:
- They have the potential to suggest thoughts that the responder would not have thought of otherwise.
- Respondents who have no viewpoint or expertise can reply in any way they like.
- Respondents may become irritated if the solution they want isn’t available.
- When there are numerous response options, it can be perplexing.
- A misunderstanding regarding the question can be overlooked.
- It’s possible that the distinctions between respondent responses will be muddled.
- It’s possible to make a simple mistake or select the wrong answer.
- They compel responders to answer in a basic manner to complex subjects.
- They compel people to make decisions that they would not take in actual situations.
Closed-ended Questions vs. Open-ended Questions
The criteria listed below plays a significant role in determining between open-ended and closed-ended questions:
- Data Type: Whenever you have to gather data for statistical analysis, you should utilize closed-ended questions. They gather quantifiable data and show a visible trend direction. The conclusions drawn from the quantitative data are clear and leave little room for debate. Open-ended questions, on the contrary, gather qualitative data on feelings and experiences that are often subjective. Sentiment analysis studies, text analytics, and word cloud reports all use qualitative information.
- Data Depth: Closed-ended questions are appropriate for gathering measurable data for the primary analysis Open-ended inquiries can be used to delve deeper into the causes for the answers. It will assist you in comprehending why respondents provided specific input or gave a rating.
- Scenario: Occasionally, the survey responses do not address all of the available scenarios. Open-ended questions fill in the gaps and give responders the opportunity to say anything they wish. Closed-ended inquiries, on the other hand, are straightforward and simple to respond to. It takes very little time to respond to them, therefore they are very respondent-friendly.
Conclusion
In this article we looked at the benefits of closed-ended questions. This article also explored what closed-ended questions are and what are their advantages and disadvantages.
Frequently Asked Questions: 7 Benefits of Closed-ended Questions
Why are closed questions bad?
Closed questions are typically shorter and more concentrated, making them easier to respond because the response options are limited, usually ‘yes’ or ‘no’. However, by imposing a binary decision, closed questions risk hiding the genuine picture.
What are examples of closed-ended questions?
Here are a few examples of closed-ended questions:
Do you want some vanilla ice cream?
What college did you attend?
What do you consider to be your best quality?
Do you like driving your car?
Is your sibling interested in the same things as you are?
Do you enjoy being around animals?
Do you celebrate your birthday?
Are Closed questions leading?
Irrespective of whether the question is open-ended or closed-ended, all inquiries force the responder to consider the meaning(s) of the question. Whenever a question leads the responder to choose one answer over another does it become leading.
What is the questioning method?
This strategy involves narrowing your topic by concentrating on a query you have about it. The question must be complicated enough to warrant a thorough response. Although many people may have already stated numerous perspectives on the subject, it is usually not a topic with a simple factual solution.
How do you deal with leading questions?
Avoid Question Bias
Keep questions basic and straightforward; don’t push respondents to a specific response; include all options to a question or suggest others; and make your questionnaire simple to complete. You may have someone with more detachment from the topic examine your questionnaire to expel biases from leading questions.
What are the advantages of closed ended questions?
Advantages of Closed-Ended Questions
Here are some more closed-ended question benefits:
Respondents can respond more easily and quickly.
It’s easier to compare the responses of different responders.
Answers are simpler to record and analyse statistically.
The answer options can help respondents understand the meaning of the question.
People are more inclined to respond to questions on sensitive issues.
There are lesser queries with unnecessary or perplexing answers.
Respondents who are less articulate or educated are not at a disadvantage.
Reproduction is much more simple.
Why should loaded questions be avoided?
Avoid loaded questions
Loaded questions are those that are worded in such a way that the responder is forced to give an answer that does not accurately represent his or her perspective or circumstance. Evaluating your survey to ensure that every responder has a method to respond truthfully is usually the best method to eliminate loaded questions.
What is the best use for closed ended questions?
For research, closed-ended questions are preferable. Close ended questions are good for a researcher searching for a faster and more efficient approach for respondents to participate. It’s easy to compare, record, and statistically analyse responses from different respondents.
How many types of close ended questions are there?
Closed-ended questions can take many different forms, such as multiple choice, drop down, checkboxes, and rating questions. Each question type requires the responder to pick from a list of pre-selected choices rather than providing unique or unexpected responses.
References
Advantages & Disadvantages of Closed-Ended Questions in Feedback Forms
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