What is the definition of an open-ended question?

An open-ended question is designed to encourage a full, thoughtful response rather than a simple one-word or brief answer. By allowing victims or witnesses to express themselves in their own words, open-ended questions enable the individual to provide more context, detail, and personal insights about their experiences. This format encourages narrative responses that can reveal important information, emotions, and perspectives that structured or closed questions might not capture.

In contrast, questions that allow for limited responses, require a yes or no answer, or ask for specific information only tend to restrict the responder's ability to elaborate on their thoughts or experiences, which can limit the depth of understanding that can be gained from their testimony.