Open-ended questions are most useful when a researcher
A has limited time to categorize and code responses
B has well-defined dimensions of a variable
C requires a structured approach
D needs to know how people naturally view their world
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is D. needs to know how people naturally view their world.
Open-ended questions are particularly useful when a researcher aims to gather rich, detailed, and qualitative data about people’s personal experiences, thoughts, or perceptions. These questions allow participants to express themselves in their own words without being limited to predefined categories or responses. This flexibility is especially helpful when the goal is to understand how individuals naturally view and interpret the world around them.
For example, when studying people’s attitudes toward a social issue or their emotional responses to a particular event, open-ended questions encourage respondents to share insights that may not be captured through structured, close-ended questions. Respondents can provide explanations, context, and nuances that would otherwise be missed, making it possible to explore complex or sensitive topics more deeply.
In contrast, other types of questions, such as close-ended ones, require respondents to select from a list of predefined answers. While these questions are useful for quantifying data or testing specific hypotheses, they do not capture the depth of understanding that open-ended questions provide. The open format of such questions enables the researcher to uncover unexpected or novel insights that might not be anticipated in a more structured format.
However, open-ended questions also have their challenges. They generate large volumes of qualitative data, which can be time-consuming and difficult to analyze, especially when the researcher has limited time or resources. In these cases, open-ended questions may not be the best choice if quick analysis or categorization is required.