Counselor Education Comprehensive Exam (CECE) Practice Exam

Which of the following is an example of a closed-ended question?

1. How does it feel when your husband is gone for weeks at a time?

2. What can you tell me about how your family has solved conflicts in the past year?

3. When was the last time you fought with your daughter?

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: When was the last time you fought with your daughter?

A closed-ended question is designed to elicit a specific piece of information and typically invites a limited response, such as a date, yes or no, or a brief fact. In this context, the choice "When was the last time you fought with your daughter?" is an example of a closed-ended question because it prompts the respondent to provide a specific answer regarding a distinct event—namely, the last time a conflict occurred. Such questions are often utilized in counseling to gather precise data and facilitate focused discussion. In contrast, the first two options are open-ended questions that encourage broader exploration and elaboration. The first question asks for feelings, which requires a reflective and detailed response, while the second question seeks insights on conflict resolution within the family context that would lead to a more elaborate discussion rather than a straightforward answer. Hence, they do not fit the criteria for closed-ended questions.