L3- Self Reports

Question 1

What are self report techniques?

Answer 1

Methods in which participants give information about themselves without researcher interference

Question 2

What are the types of interviews?

Answer 2

• structured interview
  -unstructured interview
  -semi-structured interview

Question 3

What are structured interviews?

Answer 3

-all participants asked same questions in same order
-provides quantitative data
-closed questions, restricted answers

Question 4

Advantages of structured interviews

Answer 4

+misunderstood questions can be clarified and repeated to help understanding
+ less time consuming compared to unstructured- yes no questions

Question 5

Disadvantages of structured interviews

Answer 5

• risk of interviewer effect- may inadvertently affect responses (due to appearance, age, gender) , invalid data
• lack qualitative data- factual but lack meaning and depth, may be invalid data

Question 6

What are unstructured interviews?

Answer 6

• informal, in depth, conversational exchange
• questions unplanned, but consist of themes interviewer wants to discuss
  -qualitative data
• open, in depth answer questions

Question 7

Advantages of unstructured interviews

Answer 7

+ useful when investigating sensitive or controversial topics, maybe between than questionnaires

+ can gain rich detailed data, high in validity

Question 8

Disadvantages of unstructured interview

Answer 8

• risk of social desirability bias- invalid data
• interviewers need to be well trained to conduct interview- time consuming and expensive, more training

Question 9

What is a semi- structured interview?

Answer 9

• combines structured and unstructured
  -gives qualitative and quantitative
• open and closed questions
• some pre planned questions and some themes for discussion later

Question 10

Advantages of semi structured interview

Answer 10

• gain qualitative and quantitative data
• qualitative high in validity and quantitative high in reliability

Question 11

Disadvantages of semi structured interview

Answer 11

• some answers based on key themes may be irrelevant and not related to the interview topic
• responses may be more difficult to analyse compared to a structured interview

Question 12

What are questionnaires?

Answer 12

• written set of questions and instructions about how to record their answers
  -mainly focus on the individuals behaviours, opinions, beliefs, attitudes
• can be self administered, delivered by post, internet, face to face

Question 13

Things you must consider when designing questionnaires:

Answer 13

• type of data- qualitative, quantitative (closed/open questions)
• ambiguity- avoid options which are not clearly defined
  -double barrelled questions - person may wish to answer differently to each part
  -leading questions
• complexity- clear English, avoid jargon

Question 14

Advantages of questionnaires:

Answer 14

• quick, easy, cheap- easier to have larger sample
  -easy to replicate- high reliability

Question 15

Disadvantages of questionnaires:

Answer 15

• questions can be ambiguous- misunderstood/ misinterpreted, invalid data
  -low response rate- post not returned, unanswered or filled and not returned