To achieve the goal of gathering information, open-ended questions should be used to ______.

• A. Begin with Closed Yes/No Prompts
• B. Get the Subject to Start Talking
• C. Limit the Caller’s Responses
• D. Confirm a Predetermined Script

Answer: (B)

Open-ended questions are used because the goal is to gather information by inviting the caller to describe the situation in their own words. They encourage more than a yes or no response, prompting the caller to start talking and share details about what happened, where and when it occurred, who’s involved, any injuries, weapons, and the sequence of events. This fuller input helps you build an accurate picture, identify priorities, and detect any inconsistencies. In contrast, yes/no prompts limit responses and often miss important context, while restricting answers or following a rigid script can suppress new facts and reduce situational understanding. So letting the caller start talking with open-ended questions is the most effective way to collect useful information.