Two categories of survey questions are open and closed. An open question allows a free response, while a closed question allows only a fixed response. Here are examples:
Open question: What do you think can be done to reduce crime?
Closed question: Which of the following approaches would be most effective in reducing crime?
• Hire more police officers.
• Get parents to discipline children more.
• Correct social and economic conditions in slums.
• Improve rehabilitation efforts in jails.
• Give convicted criminals' tougher sentences.
• Reform the courts.
a. What are the advantages and disadvantages of open questions?
b. What are the advantages and disadvantages of closed questions?
c. Which type is easier to analyze with formal statistical procedures, and why is that type easier?