What type of questions encourages students to think critically?

Open-ended questions are designed to encourage students to think critically because they require more than a simple factual response. Such questions invite students to elaborate on their thoughts, analyze concepts, synthesize ideas, and apply their knowledge in a way that demonstrates deeper understanding. For example, when presented with an open-ended question, students must articulate their reasoning, provide evidence for their answers, and often consider multiple viewpoints, which promotes critical thinking skills.

In contrast, closed questions typically limit responses to a specific set of answers, such as “yes” or “no,” which does not promote elaboration or in-depth analysis. Leading questions may suggest a desired answer, steering students toward a specific conclusion rather than encouraging independent thought. Yes/no questions further narrow the scope of the response, restricting student engagement to binary answers that do not foster discussion or exploration of ideas. Therefore, open-ended questions are the most effective in provoking critical thinking in students.