What is the recommended type of question to begin an interview for maximum information gathering?

Starting an interview with open-ended questions is a highly effective strategy for gathering maximum information. This type of question encourages interviewees to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in their own words, which can lead to richer and more detailed responses.

Open-ended questions allow the interviewer to explore subjects more deeply as they provide the interviewee with the freedom to elaborate on their answers, leading to insights that might not emerge from more restrictive question types. For example, instead of limiting responses to a simple "yes" or "no," an open-ended question like "Can you describe your experience in this situation?" invites a narrative that can reveal valuable context, motivations, and information.

In contrast, closed-ended questions typically require a specific response, which can inhibit the depth of information gathered. Multiple choice questions are similar in that they limit responses to pre-determined options, restricting the interviewee's ability to provide nuanced information. Leading questions can unintentionally guide the interviewee towards a particular answer, which may bias the information collected. Therefore, starting with open-ended questions sets the stage for a more productive and insightful conversation.