Research Methods: Self-report Techniques

Question 1

What is a self-report technique?

Answer 1

• Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviours or experiences with a given topic.

Question 2

What is a questionnaire?

Answer 2

A set of written questions used to assess a persons thoughts or experiences.

Question 3

What is an interview?

Answer 3

• A live encounter (IRL or virtual) where the interviewer asks a set of questions to assess a person’s thoughts or experiences.
• Questions may be pre-set (structured) or develop as the interview goes along (unstructured)

Question 4

Give a strength and limitation of questionnaries:

Answer 4

Strength:
- Cost effective and can gather large amounts of straight-forward information quickly
- Researcher does not need to be present.

Limitation:
- Social desirability bias: responses may not be truthful as Ps may want to present themselves in a positive light, which may influence their answers (demand characteristics).
- Response bias: Ps may choose to consistently answer ‘yes’ or favour the same end of a rating scale, causing Ps to complete the questionnare too quickly and fail to answer the questions correctly.
- Questionnaires can lack data in detail due to a limited answering capacity- meaning Ps answers are limited.

Question 5

Give a strength and limitation of interviews:

Answer 5

Strength:
- SI are straight forward and easy to replicate due to their standardised format (also reducing differences between interviewers).
- UI are more flexible than SI- allows for follow up points to be asked so the interviewer can gain more insight.

Limitation:
- SI do not allow for deviation from the pre-planned topics, so data collected is limited in richness for unexpected, extra detailed information.
- UI may lead to interviewer bias as there is a lack of standardisation between interviewers.
- UI are rich in detail, meaning interviewers may find it difficult to come to a conclusion if there is too much irrelevant information.

Question 6

What are open questions?

Answer 6

Questions where there is no fixed choice of response and responders can answer in any way they want e.g. why did you take up smoking?

Question 7

What are closed questions?

Answer 7

Questions where there is a fixed choice of responses determined by the question setter e.g. do you smoke? (yes/no)