Research Tips
Using Open-Ended Questions in Surveys
While most mail and Web surveys use multiple-choice questions, the inclusion of open-ended questions, where respondents provide their own answers to questions, can also be useful. Open-ended questions:
- Influence responses less than multiple-choice questions (see the tip on questionnaire response categories).
- Allow respondents to freely express divergent views.
- Enable respondents to elaborate on their answers.
- May increase respondents’ buy-in to a study.