Open-Ended Questions: 100 Examples and How to Write Them

What is an open-ended question?

An open-ended question lets a person answer in their own words rather than choose from a fixed set of responses. “What made the process difficult?” is open-ended. “Was the process difficult?” usually invites a yes or no answer.

Open questions can reveal explanations and unexpected issues. They also take effort to answer and analyze. Use them where the person’s own account will help a decision, not simply because an empty comment box is easy to add.

Write a question people can answer

• Ask about one thing at a time.
• Use familiar words and a clear time or event where needed.
• Avoid assuming a positive or negative experience.
• Ask for an example when detail matters.
• Do not require sensitive disclosure that is unnecessary for the purpose.
• Explain whether a reply is optional and how it will be used.

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100 open-ended question examples

These are adaptable examples, not validated instruments. Choose a few that fit your purpose and pilot the wording. Do not send all 100. For anonymous employee feedback, avoid asking for details that would reveal identity.

Customer experience

1. What were you trying to accomplish when you contacted us?
2. Which part of the experience worked well for you?
3. Where did you encounter difficulty?
4. What happened after you first asked for help?
5. What information was missing when you needed it?
6. How did the experience affect your next step?
7. What would have made the process easier?
8. Which part of your issue remains unresolved?
9. What led you to choose this service?
10. What else should we understand about your experience?

Employee experience

1. What helps you do your best work?
2. What currently makes your work harder?
3. How do you get the information you need?
4. What happens when you ask for support?
5. Which part of your workload needs attention?
6. What would improve collaboration on your team?
7. How has your work changed recently?
8. What helps you feel included in discussions?
9. Where are responsibilities unclear?
10. What would you change about the way work is organized?

Training and learning

1. What did you hope to learn?
2. Which concept is still unclear?
3. What helped you understand the material?
4. Where did you need more practice?
5. How would you apply this skill?
6. What might prevent you from using it?
7. What have you tried since the training?
8. What happened when you tried it?
9. What additional support would help?
10. What should change for the next group?

Student experience

1. How did you approach this task?
2. Which step was most difficult?
3. What helped you make progress?
4. What feedback did you find useful?
5. What would you like explained differently?
6. How did you decide what to do next?
7. What would help you participate more fully?
8. Which resource did you use and why?
9. What are you curious to learn next?
10. What would you change about this learning activity?

Program evaluation

1. What has changed since you joined?
2. Which change matters most to you?
3. What contributed to that change?
4. What else was happening at the same time?
5. What did not change as you expected?
6. Were there any unexpected effects?
7. Who may have had a different experience?
8. What made participation easier?
9. What made participation difficult?
10. What should the team do differently?

Partner reporting

1. What changed during this reporting period?
2. What explains the difference from the plan?
3. Which result needs more context?
4. What evidence supports this result?
5. Where are the main data gaps?
6. What has changed in your operating conditions?
7. Which definition needs clarification?
8. What support would improve the next reporting cycle?
9. What risk needs a joint decision?
10. What should we review together?

Application and selection

1. What problem are you addressing?
2. Who is affected by that problem?
3. What have you learned from the people affected?
4. How would your proposed work respond?
5. What evidence supports your approach?
6. What are the main assumptions?
7. What could prevent delivery?
8. How would you recognize progress?
9. What experience prepares you for this work?
10. What additional context should reviewers consider?

Service access

1. How did you find out about the service?
2. What was the first step like?
3. Where did you need help navigating the process?
4. What made it possible to attend?
5. What made access difficult?
6. What information would have helped earlier?
7. How did the timing work for you?
8. What would make the service more accessible?
9. What happened when you tried to resolve a problem?
10. What should staff understand about your circumstances?

Leadership feedback

1. What does this person do that helps the team?
2. Can you describe a recent example?
3. Where could their communication be clearer?
4. How do they respond to different views?
5. What happens when priorities conflict?
6. What would help them support others better?
7. Which behavior should they continue?
8. Which behavior could they change?
9. How do their actions affect your work?
10. What practical suggestion would you offer?

Exit or cancellation

1. What led to your decision to leave?
2. When did you first begin considering it?
3. What alternatives did you consider?
4. Which issue mattered most in the decision?
5. What happened when you raised the issue?
6. What worked well despite your decision?
7. What could have changed the experience?
8. What will you look for next?
9. What should the team learn from your experience?
10. Is there anything important we have not asked?

Use follow-up questions without steering the answer

Helpful probes include “Can you give an example?”, “What happened next?” and “What do you mean by that?” Use a neutral tone. Avoid suggesting the answer, finishing the person’s explanation or treating agreement as the goal.

In a survey, a short context cue can help: name the event or time period. In an interview, allow silence and give the person room to decide what is relevant. Follow the agreed interview and consent process.

How many open questions should you ask?

There is no universal number. Consider how much effort each answer requires and how the team will use it. A brief service survey may need one focused explanation; a research interview may explore several topics in depth.

Pilot the questions and inspect the answers. Short, repetitive or off-topic responses may indicate unclear wording or excessive burden. More text is not automatically better evidence.

Analyze the responses systematically

• Read a sample before defining categories.
• Create clear theme definitions and allow more than one theme where appropriate.
• Review ambiguous and contradictory responses.
• Retain source text so interpretations can be checked.
• Report the denominator and whether counts refer to people, answers or mentions.
• Separate a recurring pattern from an isolated but important concern.

AI-assisted coding can help organize responses, but review the output and protect sensitive information. A category count does not establish how common an issue is outside the observed respondents.

Connect feedback to action

Agree who will review findings and when. For an individual service issue, follow the organization’s appropriate follow-up process. For a broader pattern, check other evidence before changing policy.

The King Center’s published story describes making previously unread open-ended feedback usable across its programs. The lesson is to plan for reading and review as part of collection. Read the King Center story.

Continue with the method you need

For interviews, read interview data collection methods. For combining a rating and an explanation, see mixed method surveys. For reporting findings, use survey report examples.

Frequently asked questions

Can an open-ended question start with “why”?

Yes, but consider tone. “What led to that decision?” may invite a fuller answer without sounding accusatory.

Are open questions better than closed questions?

Neither is always better. Closed questions support consistent choices; open questions capture explanations and unanticipated detail.

Can I count themes?

Yes, with clear coding rules and a stated denominator. Explain whether a person can contribute to several themes.

Should every survey question have a comment box?

No. Add open responses where they will inform a decision and where the team can review them.