What is the primary purpose of open-ended questions in an interview?

Open-ended questions are designed to encourage deeper conversation and allow the interviewee to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in their own words. By inviting more expansive responses, these types of questions facilitate a more meaningful dialogue, fostering empathetic understanding between the interviewer and the interviewee. This approach can help uncover insights that may not be immediately apparent and allows the interviewer to gather more nuanced information about the person’s perspective.

This method contrasts with closed-ended questions, which typically seek specific answers and limit the interviewee's ability to elaborate. While confirming information or gathering data can be achieved through other types of questioning, the primary advantage of open-ended questions lies in their ability to create a rapport, support self-expression, and deepen the emotional connection during the interview process. Ultimately, this kind of dialogue can lead to a richer understanding of the interviewee's experiences and needs.