Using open-ended questioning in assessment

Open-ended questions cannot be answered in a one- or two-word response. Rather, they are phrased to encourage elaboration and typically begin with words, such as “why,” “how,” or “what,” or phrases, such as “tell me about…” or “help me understand…” For example, an advanced human services professional practitioner, meeting with a service user who is married to an abusive spouse, might ask an open-ended question like, “What is your relationship with your spouse like?,” rather than “When did the physical abuse begin?”

To Prepare

• Review your Course Announcements for possible information related to this week’s Discussion and Assignment.
• Review the Learning Resources on open-ended questioning. Pay particular attention to the examples of open-ended questions, how they are structured, and how they are different from closed-ended questions.
• Go to the Hart City virtual community using the link that is provided in the Learning Resources. Once you are in the community, review the case study you were assigned.
• Create three open-ended questions you would ask the service user from the case study to elicit information. Consider why you would ask each, as well as what information you are trying to elicit from the service user. 

Identify the Hart City case study you were assigned in the subject line of your post.

Post the three most important questions you would ask your service user in the case study to assess their most critical need. Remember to use open-ended questions. Explain why you chose to ask each question and what information you are trying to elicit from the service user. Be specific.