self report techniques Flashcards
What is a self-report technique in psychology?
A method where participants provide information about themselves, typically through questionnaires or interviews. Commonly used to gather data on attitudes, beliefs, or experiences.
What is a questionnaire?
A written set of pre-determined questions designed to collect information from participants. Can be completed in person, online, or by post.
Strengths of questionnaires?
• Can collect data from a large sample quickly and cheaply.
• Standardised questions = easy to replicate = high reliability.
Weaknesses of questionnaires?
• Social desirability bias = reduced validity.
• Misinterpretation of questions = unreliable data.
• Response bias (e.g., acquiescence).
What is an interview in psychological research?
A self-report method where participants answer questions face-to-face, by phone, or online. Can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured.
What is a structured interview?
An interview with a set list of pre-determined, closed questions. All participants are asked the same questions in the same order.
Strengths of structured interviews?
• Easy to replicate due to fixed format.
• Standardisation reduces interviewer bias.
Weaknesses of structured interviews?
• Limited depth and flexibility.
• May miss rich qualitative data.
What is an unstructured interview?
An interview with open-ended questions where the conversation flows more like a dialogue. Interviewer can explore areas in more depth.
Strengths of unstructured interviews?
• Produces rich, detailed data.
• More comfortable and flexible for the participant.
Weaknesses of unstructured interviews?
• Difficult to replicate = lower reliability.
• Interviewer bias may influence responses.
• Time-consuming to analyse.
What is a semi-structured interview?
Combines structured and unstructured approaches. Some standardised questions are used, but there’s also room for follow-up questions.
Types of questions in self-report techniques?
• Open questions: allow detailed, qualitative responses.
• Closed questions: offer fixed responses (e.g., yes/no, multiple choice) = quantitative data.
Strengths of open questions?
• Produces rich, detailed data.
• Allows exploration of thoughts/feelings.
Weaknesses of open questions?
• Harder to analyse and compare.
• May include irrelevant information.
Strengths of closed questions?
• Easy to quantify and analyse statistically.
• Useful for large samples.
Weaknesses of closed questions?
• May force participants into unsuitable answers.
• Lacks depth.
What are common biases in self-report techniques?
• Social desirability bias: participants respond in a way they think is acceptable.
• Acquiescence bias: tendency to agree with questions regardless of content.
• Interviewer bias: interviewer’s tone, appearance, or expectations influence responses.
