Which type of questions are designed to confirm understanding and often limit responses to yes or no?

Closed questions are specifically structured to elicit brief, focused responses, typically limited to a simple "yes" or "no." This type of questioning is effective for confirming understanding or gathering specific information without providing the respondent with an opportunity to elaborate. When a communicator wants to ensure clarity or verify comprehension, using closed questions facilitates direct responses, making it easier to gauge whether the listener has understood the information presented.

For instance, in a conversation where a trainer seeks to confirm whether a trainee understands a particular protocol, they might ask a closed question like, "Do you feel confident in executing this procedure?" The answer will either affirm or negate the confidence level, allowing the trainer to quickly assess the situation.

Open questions, on the other hand, invite more detailed responses and encourage discussion, while leading questions can suggest an answer or direct the respondent toward a particular response, often creating bias. Exploratory questions, likewise, delve deeper into a subject, prompting more extensive dialogue rather than simple affirmations or negations. Each of these other question types serves different purposes, emphasizing the unique nature of closed questions in facilitating confirmation.