Self report techniques

• Survey


  method that collects data by asking about opinions, attitudes and beliefs
• Self report data


  a way to obtain data by asking participants to give information about themselves
• Questionnaire


  self report method using written questions
• Interview


  a self report method using verbal questions
• Questionnaires- open and closed questions


  • open questions- one that can be answered in any way the person chooses
  • closed- a fixed amount of responses
• What must the wording of questions mean to in questionnaires?

  It must mean the same to both parties
• What is face validity in the context of questionnaires?


  It checks if questions are fit for purpose
• What distinguishes leading questions from non-leading questions?

  Leading questions suggest a desired response
• What are some ethical issues in designing questionnaires?

  Confidentiality, informed consent, sensitive topics
• What should participants be briefed about regarding sensitive issues?

  They should be given the option to leave
• How can participants provide their responses in a questionnaire?

  They can give anonymous responses
• What can happen if there are too few questions in a questionnaire?

  It may not lead to enough information
• Why might a large number of questions be an issue in questionnaires?

  It can seem boring to participants
• Design issues + questionnaires

  • validity - open questions are assumed to be more valid and this can be checked through face validity which is carried out by closely looking over the questionnaire and deeming what it is supposed to, a pilot study can also help with validity
• Test - retest


  used to check reliability of a study and involves replicating the study on the same Ps and comparing the results
• Respondent bias 


  a researcher can simply ask Ps to be open, honest and truthful whilst answering the questions
• Investigator effects


  minimised in a variety of ways, e.g. having another researcher who checks the questionnaire in an impartial way
• Strengths- Questionnaires


  administered to a large group of people easily and quickly in comparison to interviews

  
  

  can also be able to reveal more as Ps will reveal information about themselves anonymously
• Weakness - questionnaire


  Ps may complete their answers in a socially desirable way, which can decrease the validity of the results
• Closed v.s. open


  closed questions are easier to analyse as opposed to open questions, as the data obtained can be put into numbers, percentages and charts but open questions allow Ps to elaborate on reasons which can therefore produce a more detailed response
• Interview types


  • structured - pre determined set of questions to ask
  • unstructured- no pre determined questions
  • semi structured - some pre determines questions and then follow up questions
• Design issues - interviews

  • transcription of interview can be very tiring
  • interpretation of interview can be subjective, can be minimised by comparing 2 interviewers' analysis
  • develop a rapport to get them to open up - on sensitive issues, Ps are less likely to open up
  • investigator effects can be avoided by staying neutral, no leading or phrased questions
  • some Ps will open up to interviewers of a certain age/background which may influence the amount P says
• Strength - interviews


  • qualitative which means that topics can be explored in depth and with detail
  • not constrained by a narrow range of answers
  • structured > unstructured in terms of reliability
• Weakness - interviews


  • time consuming than a closed questionnaire
  • subjective analysis as interviewers own views could potentially damage the results
  • investigator effects
  • social desirability