Are there different types of questions?

There are two basic types of question - ‘open’ and ‘closed’ and they are used in different ways depending on the aim for your group/ discussion or presentation.

Open Questions

Open questions get people thinking, talking and informing and explaining! They cannot easily be answered with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and often start with:

• What….
• Why….
• Who…
• Where….
• How…..
• Talk me through….
• Explain more about…..

Closed Questions

Closed questions are often answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Use them to involve your audience, guage their knowledge on a topic and round up discussions.

Closed questions start with:

• Do you think….
• Is…..
• Should….
• Will you…..
• Have you…..
• Did…..

And remember – to keep conversation flowing, closed questions can easily be converted into open questions.