In 2008, Pew asked Americans the top issue facing the country two ways. Closed-ended, with a list: 58% picked “the economy.” Open-ended, blank box: only 35% wro
That gap is the whole case for open-ended questions — and the whole headache of analyzing them. People say more, and messier things, when you don't hand them a list. The cost shows up downstream. Item nonresponse on…