What characterizes open-ended questions compared to closed-ended questions?

Open-ended questions are characterized by their ability to allow for multiple perspectives and encourage lengthy, detailed responses. This format invites individuals to express their thoughts, feelings, and reasoning without being constrained to a simple yes or no answer, as is typical with closed-ended questions. By fostering a discussion, open-ended questions promote critical thinking and creativity, enabling respondents to delve deeper into the subject matter and explore various dimensions of their answers.

In contrast, the other options highlight characteristics of closed-ended questions, which restrict responses to specific choices or brief answers. Closed-ended questions typically require straightforward answers, often limiting critical engagement and depth of response, which is not the case with open-ended questions. Additionally, open-ended inquiries may take more time to answer as they encourage elaboration, so they aren't quicker to respond to either. Rather than curtailing student engagement, they often enhance it by promoting richer interaction and dialogue.