Question types

A topic in research methodology

Different kinds of questions are appropriate in different kinds of research, depending upon the paradigmatic assumptions underpinning the particular research design.

Closed questions

Closed questions invite one of a limited range of responses:
The phrasing of the question "Did you enjoy the lesson?" suggests a suitable response is on an evaluative dimension (very much, or quite, or not really, etc.)

Closed questions are appropriate in some types of research – in confirmatory studies where the way in which data is to be understood and categorised can be decided ahead of data collection (as opposed to discovery research where researchers seek to avoid making assumptions about how to best understand and structure respondents' ideas in advance).

Open questions

Open questions invite a much wide range of possible responses:

A question like "what were you thoughts about the lesson?" admit a wide range of responses that would seem appropriate:

• I very much enjoyed it
• I found it difficult to understand
• It went on too long
• There was too much noise to concentrate
• It would have been better earlier in the day
• I thought it was a bit repetitive
• it was too cold in that room
• I was distracted by the teacher's cough
• I like it when they show videos
• I do not think we did enough writing
• I enjoyed the discussion activity
• I think there could have been more engaging examples
• etcetera

Open questions are clearly more useful in 'unstructured' interviews and (so-called) semi-structured interviews.

Read about unstructured interviews

Read about semi-structured interviews

Leading questions

It is usually better to use neutral questions:
"Is working in groups better than working on you own?" might be considered more leading than:
"Do you prefer to work in groups or do you prefer to work on you own?"

Consider the nuances of the following two questions:

• To what extent do you think the UK should align its foreign policy with its allies and trading partners?
• Do you think the government should allow other countries to pressure the UK into following their policy interests?

Leading questions, that might be seen to suggest particular responses may be preferred, should be avoided. The following questions might be considered to be loaded towards particular responses:

"Is this the best illustrated book you have ever seen?"

"Do you think it is unfair to punish the whole class when just a few pupils are naughty?"

"When preparing your lessons, do you follow the official curriculum guidance?"

(You might want to consider how you could rework questions such as these so that they are less likely to lead a respondent to a particular answer.)

The following question was included in a survey questionnaire sent to residents of Cambourne (one of the satellite villages around Cambridge):

"10. Do you agree or disagree in principle to better bus journeys between Cambourne and Cambridge?
Agree  ☐  Disagree   ☐  Not sure  ☐ "

City Deal Team, 2015

I wonder how many people thought 'better' bus journeys were undesirable?

closed question: do you prefer practical laboratory activities or theory lesson in your science classes?	"My favourite activity is when we have to research topics on the internet"	open question: what aspects of science lessons do you prefer?
leading question: are experiments on animals justified by medical advances that prevent human suffering and save human lives? [or: can medical experiments that cause pain and stress to animals, and may need them to be killed be justified?]	"I think decisions about using animals in research have to be made on a case by case basis – considering which animals, what procedures are carried out, and what are the immediate and and indirect goals of the research"	nondirective question: how do you feel about experiments on animals that are carried out as part of medical research?

Source cited:

City Deal Team, 2015, "Cambourne to Cambridge Better bus journeys", Cambridge: Greater Cambridge City Deal.