Definition
Questions that can be answered with a short, specific response — typically yes, no, or a single fact — and which do not invite explanation, reasoning, or elaboration from the learner.
Plain English
Questions that have a short, fixed answer rather than ones that ask the student to think things through and explain.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation instruction when an instructor is choosing how to ask questions during a lesson, briefing, or review.
Derivation
Called 'closed-ended' because the answer is closed off — there is little room for the student to take the response anywhere beyond the specific fact being asked for. The opposite is 'open-ended,' where the answer is left open for discussion.
Why Pilots Care
They allow quick verification of facts during training but can limit deeper understanding if overused.
Intuition Check
Closed-ended questions are not automatically poor questions. They are useful when the instructor needs a clear, specific answer, but they are weak for getting the student to explain their reasoning.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor asked a closed-ended question — 'What is the never-exceed speed for this aircraft?' — to confirm the student had memorised the V-speed.
Example Sentence 2
After the flight the instructor switched to closed-ended questions to verify the student had noted the actual landing distance used.