Research Methods P3 Flashcards
(34 cards)
What are questionnaires?
Provide ppts with written set of questions to complete
What are the limitations of questions being fixed in a questionnaire?
- Not generalised
- Can’t make changes once sent out
What are the benefits and drawbacks of doing a questionnaire face to face?
+ People do it if there
+ Easy if people don’t use tech
- Smaller sample size
What are the benefits and drawbacks of sending a questionnaire in the post/ online?
+ Large sample
+ Reach greater diversity
- Some people don’t have stamps
- Rely on people doing it
What are open questions?
Allow ppts to answer in their own words (qualitative)
What are closed questions?
Require ppts to select answer from given option (quantitative)
What is a likert scale?
Ppts choose a value on a scale
What do you need to consider when writing questions?
- Easy to understand?
- Not leading
- Work out the end?
- Put in filler questions
Why are questionnaires easy to repeat?
P= Easy to repeat
E= Researcher doesn’t require special training
E= Data collected in large amount (replicability)
Why do questionnaires reduce investigator effect?
P= Reduce investigator effect
E= Answer Q without researcher present
E= Increase validity
C= Ppts won’t be able to ask q for clarification
How do questionnaires show social desirability bias?
P= Show social desirability bias
E= Provide responses that show themselves in best light
E= Not always entirely valid
C= Anonymous response
Why do questionnaires have a sample bias?
P= Sample bias
E= People who are more motivated
E= Low population validity (similar characteristics)
What is an interview?
Social interaction between researcher + participants
What do interviews involve?
Trained researcher asking questions directly to a ppts + their responses being recorded/ transcribed
What is a structured interview?
Fixed predetermined closed questions
What is an unstructured interview?
Guidelines for questions to be asked but phrasing/ timing left to interviewer
What is a semi-structured interview?
May contain topic but no fixed questions
What should be considered by researchers when planning an interview?
- Open/ closed
- Structured/ unstructured/ semi-structured
-Potential for social desirability bias - Ethical issues arise?
- How to record info
Why are interviews appropriate for sensitive topics?
P= Appropriate for sensitive topics
E= Encourage + offer reassurance
E= Ethical
How do interviews give people an in depth understanding?
P= Mainly qualitative data
E= Open questions
E= Peoples in depth understanding
C= Investigator bias? (validity issues)
How do interviews show social desirability bias?
P= Social desirability bias
E= Interaction with researcher
E= Effects validity
Why do interviews show acquiescence bias?
P= Acquiescence bias
E= Face to face, so like to see ourselves as likeable/ agreeable
E= Effects validity
How can there be low inter-rater reliability between interviewers?
P= Low inter-rater reliability between interviewers
E= Investigator bias vary between interviewer
E= Lack of consistency
Why are interviews time consuming?
P= Time consuming
E= Qualitative data takes longer to analyse
E= Smaller sample size (low popu. validity)
