Self-Report Methods

• What are the two main types of questions in surveys?

  Open and closed questions
• What type of data do open questions gather?

  Qualitative data
• What type of data do closed questions typically gather?

  Quantitative data
• What should be avoided when creating survey questions?

  Leading, ambiguous, or double-barrel questions
• What are questionnaires?


  • Written surveys measuring attitudes or opinions
  • Can include closed and/or open questions
  • Example: attitudes towards longer sentences for prisoners

  
• What is a key advantage of closed questions in questionnaires?

  They are easy and quicker to analyze
• What is a disadvantage of closed questions in questionnaires?

  They do not generate in-depth responses
• What is a challenge associated with gathering completed questionnaires?

  It can be time-consuming and not everyone will return them
• How can postal returns be beneficial for questionnaires?

  They provide an option for participants to return completed questionnaires
• Why might participants want to appear socially desirable in their responses?

  To present themselves in a favorable light
• What is an advantage of questionnaires compared to interviews?

  They can be completed confidentially
• What are the three types of interviews?

  1. Structured: Same questions for all interviewees
  2. Semi-Structured: Set questions with follow-up areas
  3. Unstructured: Few questions, natural conversation flow

  
• What type of data do interviews generally gather?

  Qualitative data
• What is a key advantage of qualitative data gathered from interviews?

  It is rich in detail and allows for elaboration
• What is a disadvantage of qualitative data from interviews?

  It makes analysis difficult
• How can interviews be better than questionnaires?

  Interviewees can ask for questions to be repeated or rephrased
• What unique information can interviews gather that questionnaires cannot?

  Information about body language
• What is a characteristic of structured interviews?

  They are standardized with the same questions for all
• What is required for conducting non-structured interviews?

  A trained interviewer