open-ended question

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open-ended question

a type of question in a QUESTIONNAIRE in which the respondent's choice of answer is not prestructured but left entirely free. Analysis of open-ended questions is obviously less straightforward than for FIXED-CHOICE QUESTIONS, which can be pre-coded. However, open-ended questions have the advantage, of not imposing a frame of reference on respondents (see MEASUREMENT BY FIAT).

For this reason they may be preferred to fixed choice questions in some contexts and by some researchers (e.g. as an adjunct to PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION or in the early exploratory stages of research), and can be used alongside fixed-choice questions as appropriate. see also SOCIAL SURVEY.

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000

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1949 Responses mentioned by at least 5 percent of adults Government ownership or control, government ownership of utilities, everything controlled by government, state control of business 34% Equality, equal standing for everybody, 12 all equal in rights, equal distribution Modified communism 6 Don't know/no response 36 Note: Open-ended question. Responses coded into groups by pollster.

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Sometimes, it's important to ask the open-ended question but then follow it with one or more leading questions to lock it in.

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On the open-ended question of data security fears, most of the top 5 answers were related to one-another:

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Certainly there are times when an open-ended question will be more productive than asking a close-ended question.

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The survey asked an open-ended question about financial challenges faced by the respondents, who were asked either to check a box indicating that they faced no financial challenges or to describe in "a couple of words (150 character max)" to describe the main financial challenges or concerns facing them or their families.

Challenges vary by income

* Quick Question provides you the opportunity to pose a true/false, multiple choice, or open-ended question to the class instantly and without prior preparation.

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The email and its open-ended question quickly gave rise to speculation: Was Clinton rushing to procure gefilte fish for her upcoming seder?

Hillary Clinton Wrote an Email About Gefilte Fish. We Explain

After you ask a good open-ended question, learn to wait for the response.

Best employee development skill--shut your mouth! Asking questions then staying quiet and being a good listener will help employees develop

In addition, each area had an open-ended question regarding which additional video clips would be recommended for this library.

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In Figure 1, a student whose response exemplifies poor application introduces his or her answer by shuffling or restating the words from the open-ended question itself.

A (1)-(2)-(3) Jumpstart approach to answer an open-ended question

In another open-ended question, asking for views on the worst thing Obama's done as president, 27 percent said health care, including 1 percent who chided him for having "failed" or given in on "important parts of plan."

Poll: Health care reform is Barack Obama's best and worst

In an open-ended question about their experience with the program, nearly all the responses were negatives, according to the AMA.