Which of the following is an example of a closed-ended question?

Which of the following is an example of a closed-ended question?

• A. Can you tell me what caused you to become delinquent?
• B. How do you feel about your current situation?
• C. How much do you spend monthly on groceries?
• D. What are your long-term financial goals?

Answer: (C)

A closed-ended question is designed to elicit a specific piece of information and typically can be answered with a simple response, such as a number, “yes” or “no,” or a choice among options. In the case of the provided answer, asking how much someone spends monthly on groceries is indeed a closed-ended question because it requires a specific numerical response. The respondent cannot elaborate much without straying from the question, which focuses solely on the monthly grocery expenditure. Other examples in the choices involve more open-ended inquiries that invite the respondent to provide broader, more detailed answers. For instance, asking what caused someone to become delinquent or how they feel about their current situation invites discussion and allows for a range of responses, making them open-ended. Similarly, inquiring about long-term financial goals encourages elaboration on personal aspirations and strategies, which also moves beyond a singular answer. Thus, the focus on a precise monetary figure in the chosen response underlines its nature as a closed-ended question.

A closed-ended question is designed to elicit a specific piece of information and typically can be answered with a simple response, such as a number, “yes” or “no,” or a choice among options.

In the case of the provided answer, asking how much someone spends monthly on groceries is indeed a closed-ended question because it requires a specific numerical response. The respondent cannot elaborate much without straying from the question, which focuses solely on the monthly grocery expenditure.

Other examples in the choices involve more open-ended inquiries that invite the respondent to provide broader, more detailed answers. For instance, asking what caused someone to become delinquent or how they feel about their current situation invites discussion and allows for a range of responses, making them open-ended. Similarly, inquiring about long-term financial goals encourages elaboration on personal aspirations and strategies, which also moves beyond a singular answer. Thus, the focus on a precise monetary figure in the chosen response underlines its nature as a closed-ended question.