Self-report techniques

Question 1

What are the two types of self-report techniques?

Answer 1

Questionnaires and interviews

Question 2

What are questionnaires?

Answer 2

A pre-set list of written questions for a participant
Psychologists use questions to asses thoughts and/or feelings
A questionnaire can be used as part of an experiment to assess the dependant variable

Question 3

What are ‘open questions’?

Answer 3

Questions that do NOT have a fixed range of answers - the respondents answer how they wish
These questions produce qualitative data and a wide range of different responses

Question 4

What is a limitation of open questions?

Answer 4

The answers may be difficult to analyse

Question 5

What are ‘closed questions’

Answer 5

Questions that offer fixed responses such as “yes” or “no”
These questions may also produce quantitative data such as rating things on a scale of 1 to 10

Question 6

What is a limitation of closed questions

Answer 6

Although these responses will be easier to analyse, they will lack depth and detail

Question 7

Name 3 strengths of questionnaires

Answer 7

1. Cost effective - large amounts of data gathered quickly, distributed to lots of people
2. Can be completed without the researcher being present
3. The results are easy to analyse - statistical analysis and comparisons can be made using graphs and charts

Question 8

Name 3 limitations of questionnaires

Answer 8

1. Responses given may not always be truthful (demand characteristics)
2. Acquiescence bias may occur (the tendency to select the positive response option on a questionnaire regardless of the questions)
3. Questionnaire could be completed too quickly and fail to read the questions properly

Question 9

Describe interviews

Answer 9

Most interviews involve face-to-face interaction between an interviewer and an interviewee, but may also be done over the phone/internet

Question 10

What are the three types of interviews?

Answer 10

Structured interviews, unstructured interviews and semi-structured interviews

Question 11

What are structured interviews?

Answer 11

Pre-determined sets of questions asked in a fixed order
Similar to a questionnaire but conducted FtF in real time

Question 12

What is a strength of structured interviews?

Answer 12

Straightforward to replicate because it is in a standardised format - this reduces difference between interviewers

Question 13

What is a limitation of structured interviews?

Answer 13

It is not possible for the interviewers to devise from the topic or explain their questions
This can limit the richness of the data collected, and limits unexpected information

Question 14

What are unstructured interviews?

Answer 14

These work like a conversation, with no set questions
A certain topic will be discussed, and the interaction is free flowing - the interviewee is encouraged to expand and elaborate

Question 15

What is a strength of unstructured interviews?

Answer 15

They are more flexible - the interviewer can follow anything that arises and is therefore more likely to gain a better insight including unexpected information

Question 16

What are 3 limitations of unstructured interviews?

Answer 16

1. Increased risk of interviewer bias
2. Analysis may not be straightforward - could be lots of irrelevant info so drawing conclusions may be difficult
3. Risk that interviewees may lie - social desirability

Question 17

What are semi-structured interviews?

Answer 17

A list of questions have been worked out in advance but interviewers are also free to ask follow-up questions based on previous answers
A job interview is a good example