The method of web probing integrates cognitive interviewing techniques into web surveys and is increasingly used to evaluate survey questions. In a usual web probing scenario, probes are administered immediately after the question to be tested (concurrent probing), typically as open-ended questions. A second possibility of administering probes is in a closed format, whereby the response categories for the closed probes are developed during previously conducted qualitative cognitive interviews. Using closed probes has several benefits, such as reduced costs and time efficiency, because this method does not require manual coding of open-ended responses. In this article, we investigate whether the insights gained into item functioning when implementing closed probes are comparable to the insights gained when asking open-ended probes and whether closed probes are equally suitable to capture the cognitive processes for which traditionally open-ended probes are intended. The findings reveal statistically significant differences with regard to the variety of themes, the patterns of interpretation, the number of themes per respondent, and nonresponse. No differences in number of themes across formats by sex and educational level were found.

网络探查方法将认知访谈技术整合到网络调查中，并越来越多地用于评估调查问题。在通常的网络探查场景中，探查在要测试的问题之后立即进行（并发探查），通常作为开放式问题。管理调查的第二种可能性是封闭形式，其中封闭调查的响应类别是在先前进行的定性认知访谈期间开发的。使用封闭探针有几个好处，例如降低成本和时间效率，因为这种方法不需要对开放式响应进行手动编码。在本文中，我们调查了在实施封闭式探针时获得的对项目功能的洞察是否与询问开放式探针时获得的洞察力相当，以及封闭式探针是否同样适合捕捉传统开放式探针所针对的认知过程。调查结果显示，在主题的多样性、解释模式、每个受访者的主题数量和无反应方面存在统计学上的显着差异。没有发现不同格式的主题数量因性别和教育水平而异。和无反应。没有发现不同格式的主题数量因性别和教育水平而异。和无反应。没有发现不同格式的主题数量因性别和教育水平而异。