When is it appropriate to use open-ended questions in an interview?

Using open-ended questions in an interview is appropriate primarily to gather general information. Open-ended questions encourage the interviewee to provide detailed responses, elaborating on their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and perspectives. This allows the interviewer to collect a broader range of information and insights rather than just specific facts.

When used effectively, open-ended questions can lead to a more engaging dialogue, providing context and depth to the information obtained. This is crucial in interviews, particularly in settings where understanding the nuances of a situation is important, such as in investigative interviews or when assessing a person's background or motivations.

Other scenarios may call for different questioning techniques, such as closed questions to confirm specific details, but the utility of open-ended questions lies in their ability to facilitate exploration of topics, thereby enriching the information-gathering process.