January 27, 2015 - Comments Off on Open-Ended Questions

Open-Ended Questions

Word:  Open-ended questions

Definition: An open-ended question does not have a right or wrong answer. It doesn't even have pre-determined  ideas for what the answer might be. Such questions cannot be satisfied with a simple yes or no.

Thoughts: I know this seems like a simplistic word to define but it is so important to understand the art of question-asking when conducting user interviews. An open-ended question provides room for discoverability and this is where the heart of UX problem- solving lives! The  more open ended and vague your question is, the more room you give your user to dig deeply and thoughtfully. Don't be afraid of silence either. Users may shy away from open-ended questions by giving an insufficient answer. When this happens, let the silence permeate, and the user will likely expound on her answer to fill the awkward moment. Once the silence is filled, you will be glad your question gave room for it.

Questions: How do you utilize open-ended questions?

Published by: hratkin in research

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