What kind of questions elicit descriptive responses?

Open-ended questions are specifically designed to elicit descriptive responses. These types of questions allow respondents to express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions in a free-form manner, providing richer, more detailed information. This encourages a conversation where the respondent can elaborate on their experiences and insights, which can lead to a deeper understanding of their needs, motivations, and challenges.

In contrast, closed questions typically require a specific, often brief response, such as a yes or no, thereby limiting the richness of the information that can be gathered. Yes/no questions, as a subset of closed questions, do not allow for elaboration and therefore do not invite the descriptive engagement that is crucial for eliciting detailed insights. Directive questions may lead the respondent towards a specific answer, which can also restrict the depth of the responses received.

Overall, the use of open-ended questions is key in situations where obtaining comprehensive, in-depth feedback is the goal, making them the ideal choice for eliciting descriptive responses from participants.