Research Methods : Self Reports

Question 1

What’re self reports

Answer 1

Methods of gathering data where Ps provide info about themselves (thoughts, feelings, opinions, etc)

Question 2

Advs of self reports

Answer 2

• rich, qualitative data
• can help explain reasons behind behaviour
• easy to get her a large amount of data
• can ask hypothetical questions

Question 3

Disadvs of self reports

Answer 3

• Ps may try and come off in a socially acceptable way - social desirability bias
• only useful if P is willing to disclose info
• Ps much have the introspective ability to understand their own thoughts and feelings
• acquiescence bias - people tend to agree with statements
• Ps may misinterpret questions
• Ps may have forgotten/ not know how to answer

Question 4

What’re questionnaires

Answer 4

Where Ps are given pre-set questions to answer. Ideally, questions should progress logically from least sensitive to most and the researcher should ensure that the answer to a question isn’t influenced by previous questions

Question 5

Types of questionnaires

Answer 5

• likely scale (strongly disagree - strongly agree)
• rating scales (1-10)
• closed questions (yes or no)
• open questions (describe… tell me about…)

Question 6

Questionnaires ads

Answer 6

• socially desirability bias reduced (no interviewer + anonymous)
• large amount of data collected quickly
• quantitative data easier to analyse

Question 7

Questionnaire disads

Answer 7

• given options may not represent P’s true opinion
• quantitative data is less rich

Question 8

What’s cronbach’s alpha?

Answer 8

The measure of internal consistency of items within a questionnaire

Question 9

What’s a psychometric measure?

Answer 9

Quantifies knowledge, abilities, attitude and personality traits

Question 10

What’re closed questions?

Answer 10

Where only a certain amount of choices available as answers - quantitative

Question 11

What’re open questions?

Answer 11

Allow Ps to guide full, detailed answers were there is no restriction on what can be said - qualitative

Question 12

What’re standardised instructions?

Answer 12

A set of written/ recorded instructions given to Ps to ensure they all receive them in the same way

Question 13

What’re filler questions?

Answer 13

Questions put into questionnaires/ interviews to disguise the aim of the study

Question 14

What’s an interview?

Answer 14

An experimenter asking Ps questions (generally one to one) and recording their answers

Question 15

What’re structured interviews?

Answer 15

Have predetermined questions

Question 16

Structures interviews ads

Answer 16

• can be replicated
• reduces differences between interviews
• quick to conduct

Question 17

Structured interviews disads

Answer 17

• interviews cant deviate from the topic of elaborate points
• quantitative data

Question 18

What’re unstructured interviews?

Answer 18

Less stricture, may start with prepared questions then new ones might develop depending on answers given

Question 19

Unstructured interviews ads

Answer 19

• collection of rich, qualitative data
• allows researcher to follow up and seek clarification

Question 20

Unstructured interviews disads

Answer 20

• difficult to analyse (qualitative date)
• interviewers may not be truthful due to social desirability bias

Question 21

What’re semi-structured interviews?

Answer 21

A mix of strutted and unstructured (often most successful)

Question 22

What’s an interview schedule?

Answer 22

A list with a set of structured questions that have been pre-prepared

Question 23

What’s an interview transcript?

Answer 23

A written record of everything said during the interview