← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Closed and open survey questions

A closed question gives fixed choices to pick from, like multiple choice or a rating scale. An open question lets people write their own answer, so it is harder to count.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 9

Understanding Closed and open survey questions in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: The student can only circle one of the numbers 1 to 5, so the answers are fixed and easy to count. A closed question gives fixed choices to pick from. The open version lets people write anything they like. Free-text answers are typed or written by the person, so the question is open.

Common mistakes: A rating scale gives fixed choices (1 to 5), so it is a closed question. The label should be [closed], not [open]. A closed question must list fixed choices to pick from. A blank writing space makes it open. The line should show options such as ( ) Yes ( ) No ( ) Maybe.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 204–236) and word search (Modules 189–236).

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Learning

Duo

Which one is a closed survey question?

How do you feel about your sleep? Write your thoughts.How many hours do you sleep? Pick one: 5 or less, 6-7, 8-9, 10 or more

Matches

Open question: How often do you read? (a) Daily (b) Weekly (c) Never

↓

This is labelled open but it gives fixed choices, so it is really a closed question. An open question should have a blank space to write in.

Applying

Meanings

Term

closed vs open question

Meaning

A closed question gives fixed choices to pick from, like multiple choice or a rating scale. An open question lets people write their own answer, so it is harder to count.

Practice

Closed: How do you get to school?

Testing

Gaps

type:

Check Answer

Spots

2 ( ) Year 7 ( ) Year 8

3Q2 [open] Rate lunch 1 to 5:

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Quick Questions

1. Which one is a closed survey question?

A. How do you feel about your sleep? Write your thoughts.

B. How many hours do you sleep? Pick one: 5 or less, 6-7, 8-9, 10 or more ✓

A closed question gives fixed choices to pick from. The open version lets people write anything they like.

2. Which one is an open survey question?

A. What would you change about the school canteen? ✓

B. Do you like the canteen? Yes or No

An open question has no fixed choices. People write their own answer in their own words.

3. A rating scale from 1 (hate it) to 5 (love it) is which type of question?

A. Closed ✓

B. Open

A rating scale gives fixed choices (1 to 5), so it is a closed question.

4. Which type of question gives free-text answers?

A. Open ✓

B. Closed

Free-text answers are typed or written by the person, so the question is open.

5. You get 200 survey responses. Which type is easier to count?

A. Open questions, because everyone writes a different answer

B. Closed questions, because answers fit fixed choices ✓

Fixed choices can be counted quickly with a tally or a formula like COUNTIF. Free-text answers must be read and sorted first.

Match the Pairs

Which sport do you play? (a) Netball (b) Football (c) Swimming → A closed question: it gives fixed choices to pick from

What do you like most about our school canteen? → An open question: people write their own answer in their own words

A rating scale is a closed question because the answer is picked from fixed numbers → Rate our canteen from 1 (poor) to 5 (great): 1 2 3 4 5

Closed answers are easier to count because you can use a formula on the fixed choices → =COUNTIF(B2:B30,"Netball")

Open question: How often do you read? (a) Daily (b) Weekly (c) Never → This is labelled open but it gives fixed choices, so it is really a closed question. An open question should have a blank space to write in.

Closed question: Tell us how you feel about homework. ______ → This is labelled closed but it has a blank space to write in, so it is really an open question. A closed question needs fixed choices.

Key Term

closed vs open question

A closed question gives fixed choices to pick from, like multiple choice or a rating scale. An open question lets people write their own answer, so it is harder to count.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Q1: Describe your perfect lunch. type: open

Hint: Type the question type where people write their own answer.

2. Q2: Pick one: A) Dog B) Cat C) Fish type: closed

Hint: Type the question type that gives fixed choices to pick from.

3. =COUNTIF(B2:B30,"Yes")

Hint: Type the spreadsheet function that counts cells matching a value, which is easy with closed answers.

4. Q4: What would you change at school? answer: free text box

Hint: Type the word describing an answer box with no fixed choices.

5. Q5: Rate recess from 1 to 5. type: closed (rating scale)

Hint: Type the word for a closed question with numbered steps from low to high.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Q1 [closed] Pick your year:

B ( ) Year 7 ( ) Year 8

C Q2 [open] Rate lunch 1 to 5:

Line C — A rating scale gives fixed choices (1 to 5), so it is a closed question. The label should be [closed], not [open].

Question 2

A Q1 [closed] Do you like PE?

B Write your answer here: ____

C Q2 [open] Why do you like PE?

Line B — A closed question must list fixed choices to pick from. A blank writing space makes it open. The line should show options such as ( ) Yes ( ) No ( ) Maybe.

Question 3

A Q1 [closed] Favourite sport?

B ( ) Netball ( ) Soccer

C ( ) Tennis ( ) Other

D Q2 [closed] Why that sport?

Line D — A 'Why?' question lets people write their own reason, so it is an open question. It should be labelled [open].

Question 4

A Q1 [closed] Reading per week?

B ( ) 0-3 ( ) 2-4 ( ) 5+

C Q2 [open] Favourite book?

Line B — The fixed choices overlap, because 2 and 3 fit in two boxes. Closed question choices must not overlap, so the first choice should be 0-1.

Question 5

A Q1 [closed] Own a phone?

B ( ) Yes ( ) No

C Q2 [open] ( ) Games ( ) Chat

Line C — An open question lets people write their own answer, so it should not list tick boxes. Fixed options would turn it into a closed question.

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