What is a major limitation of closed-ended questions?

Closed-ended questions are designed to elicit specific responses, typically from a pre-defined set of options such as "yes/no" or multiple choice answers. One of the major limitations of these questions is that they restrict the depth of responses. Respondents are not able to elaborate on their thoughts, feelings, or experiences beyond the options provided.

This limitation means that while closed-ended questions can be useful for gathering quantifiable data quickly or for understanding general trends, they do not capture the nuance or complexity of respondents' opinions. In contexts where deeper insight is needed—such as in understanding patient experiences, preferences, or concerns in healthcare—closed-ended questions might miss critical information that open-ended questions could reveal.