NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam

What is an example of an open-ended question?

1. What is your favorite color?

2. Do you like to exercise?

3. How do you imagine you will feel when you achieve this goal?

4. Are you happy with your progress?

The correct answer is: How do you imagine you will feel when you achieve this goal?

An open-ended question encourages a detailed response and allows for a broader expression of thoughts and feelings. The question asking how someone imagines they will feel when achieving a goal invites the person to elaborate on their emotions, expectations, and personal insights. This type of questioning fosters a deeper conversation and often provides the trainer with valuable information about the client's motivations and mindset. In contrast, the other options are closed-ended questions, which typically seek a more straightforward, often one-word answer or a simple choice. For example, asking about a favorite color usually prompts a specific answer without exploration, while questions about liking to exercise or expressing happiness with progress tend to require simple affirmations or denials. These responses do not invite further elaboration, limiting the depth of interaction between the trainer and client.