self report techniques

Question 1

What is a questionnaire?

Answer 1

a pre set list of questions usually concerning behaviors, opinions and attitudes which respondents record their answers too

Question 2

What are the two types of questions asked on a questionnaire?

Answer 2

-open questions
-closed (fixed) questions

Question 3

What are open questions?

Answer 3

questions which allow participants to answer in their own words. they are more difficult to analyse but allow freedom of expression and greater depth of answers.

Question 4

What are closed (fixed) questions?

Answer 4

yes/no answers. they are easy to quantify but restrict participants answers

Question 5

What are the strengths of using questionnaires?

Answer 5

-quick
-lack of investigator effects
-quantitative (closed) and qualitative (open) analysis
-easy to replicate

Question 6

What are weaknesses of using questionnaires?

Answer 6

-participants may misunderstand questions
-biased sample as only people interested will complete them
-low response rates
-superficial issues, questionnaires are not suitable for sensitive issues
-social desirability/idealized answers

Question 7

What is an interview?

Answer 7

where researchers ask face to face questions.

Question 8

What are the three types of interviews?

Answer 8

-structured
-unstructured
-semi-structured

Question 9

What is a structured interview?

Answer 9

identical closed questions are read to participants and the interviewer wrights down the answers. the interviewer does not need to be trained

Question 10

What is an unstructured interview?

Answer 10

an informal discussion on a particular topic. interviewers can ask follow up questions. interviewers must be trained.

Question 11

What are semi-structured interviews?

Answer 11

a combination of techniques from structured and unstructured interviews to produce quantitative and qualitative data.

Question 12

What are the advantages of using interviews?

Answer 12

-they can deal with complex issues
-misunderstood questions can be explained
-can produce both quantitative and qualitative data
-structured interviews can usually be replicated

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of using interviews?

Answer 13

-interviewer effects
-interviewer training
-ethical issues (deception, protection from harm, informed consent)
-participant answers; they may not be able to answer clearly