Close Ended Questions: Top 25 Examples for Every Situation

In today’s fast-paced world, getting accurate and concise information is crucial for effective decision-making. Close-ended questions play a vital role in gathering such information, as they provide clear and specific answers. 

These questions are designed to elicit a limited range of responses, making them an essential tool in various situations, from casual conversations to professional interviews and research studies. 

This comprehensive guide will explore the top 25 examples of close-ended questions for every situation, covering a wide array of topics such as probing questions, multiple-choice questions, thought-provoking questions, and more. By understanding the different types of close-ended questions and their applications, you can enhance your communication skills and gather valuable insights in any context.

Probing Questions

Probing questions are used to gather specific information or clarify a point. They are particularly useful in interviews and surveys.

1. Did you complete the task on time?

2. Are you satisfied with the product?

3. Do you prefer working individually or in a team?

Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple choice questions present respondents with a list of options to choose from. They are commonly used in quizzes, exams, and surveys.

4. Which of the following is your favorite color?

• • Red
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow

5. Which payment method do you prefer?

• • Cash
  • Credit Card
  • Mobile Payment
  • Bank Transfer

Thought-Provoking Questions

Thought-provoking questions encourage respondents to think deeply about a topic or issue. They can be used in group discussions or brainstorming sessions.

6. Do you agree or disagree with the statement: “Technology has improved our lives”?

7. Should companies prioritize profit over social responsibility?

Qualitative Research Methods

In qualitative research, close-ended questions help researchers gather specific data and compare responses across participants.

8. On a scale of 1-5, how satisfied are you with our customer service?

9. Which of the following best describes your job role?

• • Manager
  • Supervisor
  • Employee
  • Freelancer

Ambiguous Questions

Ambiguous questions can be interpreted in multiple ways, leading to varied responses. They can be used to explore different perspectives on a topic.

10. Do you consider yourself successful?

11. Is the glass half full or half empty?

Scale-Based Questions

Scale-based questions ask respondents to rate their opinion or experience on a numerical scale. They are commonly used in surveys and questionnaires.

12. On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to recommend our product to a friend?

13. How would you rate your overall satisfaction with our service on a scale of 1-5?

Reflective Questions

Reflective questions encourage respondents to think about their experiences and feelings. They can be used in coaching or counseling sessions.

14. Are you happy with your current job?

15. Do you feel fulfilled in your personal life?

Binary Questions

Binary questions require a simple “yes” or “no” answer. They are useful for gathering straightforward information.

16. Have you ever traveled abroad?

17. Do you own a car?

Hypothetical Questions

Hypothetical questions present a fictional scenario and ask respondents how they would react or respond. They can be used to explore decision-making processes and problem-solving skills.

18. If you won the lottery, would you quit your job?

19. If you could travel back in time, would you change any decisions you’ve made?

Comparison Questions

Comparison questions ask respondents to evaluate two or more options and make a choice. They can be used in market research or product development.

20. Do you prefer online shopping or in-store shopping?

21. Which brand do you trust more: Brand A or Brand B?

Preference Questions

Preference questions are used to determine an individual’s preferred choice among a set of options. These questions can help you understand people’s likes and dislikes, which can be valuable in tailoring products, services, or marketing strategies to better suit their preferences.

22. Example: Which social media platform do you use the most?

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

Frequency Questions

Frequency questions ask respondents how often they engage in a particular activity or behavior. These questions can provide insights into habits, routines, and the prevalence of certain actions within a target population.

23. Example: How often do you exercise in a week?

• Daily
• 3-4 times a week
• 1-2 times a week
• Rarely or never

Agreement Questions

Agreement questions are designed to gauge the level of agreement or disagreement with a given statement. They can be used to measure opinions, beliefs, or attitudes toward a specific topic or issue. For example, if you’re trying to gauge demand for your newly-created PDF converter software, asking “Have you ever had difficulty converting a document to PDF format?” might be the best way to format the question. 

24. Example: Do you believe that remote work is as productive as working in an office?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

Evaluation Questions

Evaluation questions ask respondents to assess or rate a particular aspect, such as the quality, usability, or effectiveness of a product, service, or experience. These questions can help identify areas for improvement and measure the success of interventions or changes Also, you can incorporate WordPress quiz plugins or any other quiz-maker tool to to gather valuable feedback and insights from your audience.

25. Example: How would you rate the user-friendliness of our website on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being very difficult to use and 5 being very easy to use?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are close-ended questions, and why are they important?

Close-ended questions are questions that have a limited range of predetermined answers, such as “yes” or “no,” multiple choice options, or a rating scale. They are important because they provide clear and specific information, making them an essential tool for gathering data in various situations like interviews, surveys, and research studies.

2. How do Poll the People utilize close-ended questions in their surveys?

Poll the People uses close-ended questions to gather valuable insights from their panel of respondents. By incorporating different types of close-ended questions, such as multiple choice, scale-based, and binary questions, Poll the People can efficiently collect specific data and analyze it using their advanced AI tools to provide actionable insights for businesses and researchers.

3. Can I combine close-ended questions with open-ended questions in a Poll the People survey?

No – Poll the People only support single-question micro surveys. This approach allows you to gather both quantitative and qualitative data, providing a richer understanding of the topic at hand. Poll the People’s platform is designed to accommodate various question types, making it easy to create accurate and high-quality research studies.

4. How can I ensure that my close-ended questions are effective in a Poll the People survey?

To ensure that your close-ended questions are effective in a Poll the People survey, make sure they are clear, concise, and relevant to your research objectives. Avoid using ambiguous or leading questions that may influence respondents’ answers. Additionally, providing exact two options like in a head-to-head comparison makes sure that respondents don’t get confused and overwhelmed. 

5. How does Poll the People analyze the data collected from close-ended questions?

Poll the People uses advanced AI tools to automatically analyze the data collected from close-ended questions. These tools include automated response filtering, scoring, normalization, thematic coding, and emotional analysis. By leveraging these AI-powered features, Poll the People provides valuable insights that help businesses and researchers make data-backed decisions faster and with less manual effort.

Conclusion

Close-ended questions are a powerful tool for gathering specific information and insights in various situations. By understanding the different types of close-ended questions and their applications, you can enhance your communication skills and gather valuable data in any context. As a final suggestion, consider combining close-ended questions with open-ended questions to create a more comprehensive and engaging conversation or survey experience. This approach allows you to gather both quantitative and qualitative data, providing a richer understanding of the topic at hand.

In conclusion, close-ended questions are a powerful tool for gathering specific information and insights in various situations. By understanding the different types of close-ended questions and their applications, you can enhance your communication skills and gather valuable data in any context. 

Poll the People leverages these questions in their AI-powered surveys, providing businesses and researchers with actionable insights from their panel of respondents. By incorporating close-ended questions into your research or marketing strategies with platforms like Poll the People, you can make data-backed decisions that drive success and optimize your resources for maximum impact.