8.3. Types of Questions and Answers

In this section, we present a candidate classification of questions and answers. For both questions and answers, three different types are described: fixed, open, and controlled. Depending on the system needs, various combinations of questions and answers can be used.

8.3.1. Question Types

The two types of questions that are likely to be most familiar are fixed questions and open questions. A fixed question provides a list of preset questions to a user, where the user's choice of question can be taken only "as is" from this list. At the other extreme is an open question, where a user has complete choice and control over the question; guidance as to the question construction may be provided to the user, but the user enters the question in free-form text.