Which method of data collection offers more flexibility in responses?

The method of data collection that provides more flexibility in responses is open questionnaires. This approach allows participants to express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions in their own words without being constrained by predefined response options. Consequently, open questionnaires can uncover insights that researchers may not have anticipated and can capture the complexity of human experience in a way that closed formats cannot.

In contrast, closed questionnaires require respondents to select from a limited set of options, which can restrict the depth and range of information provided. Similarly, structured interviews follow a fixed set of questions and response choices, providing limited flexibility compared to the open-ended nature of open questionnaires. Observation, while valuable for gathering data in a natural setting, does not involve direct participant responses in the same way and may miss the nuances of individual perspectives. Thus, the open questionnaire method stands out as the most flexible option for collecting data.