Self-Report Techniques

Question 1

What are self report techniques

Answer 1

research methods where Pp provide information about themselves without researcher interference

Question 2

What are the two main examples of self-report techniques

Answer 2

Questionnaires and Interviews

Question 3

What do questionnaires involve

Answer 3

participants record their own answers so a pre-set list of questions

can have open and closed questions

Question 4

What are open questions?
What are the benefits and disadvantages

Answer 4

allows Pp to write down their own answer so seen as having more validity
it provides qualitative data which provides more depth and freedom of expression into answers however they are difficult to analyse

Question 5

What are closed questions
What are the benefits and disadvantages

Answer 5

Provide the Pp with a selection of answers to choose from so can be seen as less valid as it pre-determines the selection of answers

fixed responses and provides quantitative data which is easier to analyse and spot patterns but lacks detail and restricts Pp answers

Question 6

What are advantages of using Questionnaires

Answer 6

• quick and efficient as large amounts of data can be gathered in a short amount of time
• very cheap
• lack of investigator effects as they can be completed without researchers present
• can analyse quantitative and qualitative data
• replicable as questionnaires use standardised questions so easy to replicate; especially closed questions

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of Questionnaires

Answer 7

• easy to misunderstand so Pp may misinterpret questions
• biased samples as certain types of people may be more willing to fill out questionnaires so not representative of whole population
• low response rates
• Pp may provide idealised answers and lie to give answers which they think are expected of them

Question 8

How do you design a questionnaire

Answer 8

• have an aim so it’s easier to write questions that address your aim specifically
• make it short and straight to the point
• questions would be concise, unambiguous and easy to understand
• may use previous successful questionnaires as a basis for design
• some use measurement scales to reflect levels of agreement

Question 9

What are interviews
What are the three main types

Answer 9

involve researcher asking face-to-face questions
- structured, unstructured, semi/structured

Question 10

What are structured interviews?
What are the benefits and disadvantages

Answer 10

involve identical close questions being asked to Pp and interview writes responses down

interviewer doesn’t need training as it is easy to conduct as it is easy to compare answers as all Pp asked same questions
HOWEVER
responses can not be followed up with additional questions to provide more detail; the pre-determined questions may not provide the relevant data required for the investigation

Question 11

What are unstructured interviews?
What are the benefits and disadvantages

Answer 11

an open conversation about a particular topic

interview can ask specific questions and gain additional information
HOWEVER
interviewer will need training to ensure they don’t ask leading questions or show bias; comparisons difficult due to different interviews

Question 12

What are semi-structured interviews
What are the benefits and disadvantages

Answer 12

combination of structured and unstructured techniques, producing qualitative and quantitative data

comparison is easier than unstructured as same questions are asked for part of the interview and can also gain extra information by asking further questions
HOWEVER
interview requires specific training to ensure they don’t ask leading questions or show bias

Question 13

What are the advantages of interviews

Answer 13

• involve qualitative and quantitative data so data can be easy to analyse as well as providing detail
• dependent on the type used, can be easy to replicate due to standardised questions
• any misunderstood questions can be explained
• validity can be improved by asking in depth questions which provide more detailed data

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of interviews

Answer 14

• interviewer effects; may unconsciously bias answers
• Pp may provide idealised answers or lie in order to give answers of what think are expected
• some Pp may struggle putting feeling or ideas into words

Question 15

How do you design an interview?

Answer 15

• decide the type of interview that best suits the experiment
• decide wether to use open or closed questions
• gender,age and ethnicity of interview need to be taken into consideration
• make sure training takes place as it is essential to successfully interviewing such as listening skills and non-verbal communication to relax Pp