Which statement about open questions is true?

Which statement about open questions is true?

• A. They elicit brief, yes/no answers
• B. They elicit fuller, longer responses
• C. They are never used in intake
• D. They are identical to closed questions

Answer: (B)

Open questions invite clients to describe their experiences, thoughts, and feelings in their own words, which tends to yield fuller, longer responses. This is why the statement that open questions elicit longer responses is the best description: prompts like “What brings you here today?” or “How did that affect you?” encourage narrative detail, exploration, and nuance rather than a simple yes or no. In intake work, using open questions helps build a comprehensive understanding of the client’s presenting issue, history, and context. Closed questions tend to produce brief answers; saying open questions are never used in intake is inaccurate, and they are not identical to closed questions because they serve different purposes.

Open questions invite clients to describe their experiences, thoughts, and feelings in their own words, which tends to yield fuller, longer responses. This is why the statement that open questions elicit longer responses is the best description: prompts like “What brings you here today?” or “How did that affect you?” encourage narrative detail, exploration, and nuance rather than a simple yes or no. In intake work, using open questions helps build a comprehensive understanding of the client’s presenting issue, history, and context. Closed questions tend to produce brief answers; saying open questions are never used in intake is inaccurate, and they are not identical to closed questions because they serve different purposes.