Self report Design + Techniques

• What is the definition of self report?

  a research technique in which participants knowingly respond to questions revealing personal information about themselves
• What types of self report techniques are there?

  • questionnaire
  • interview
  • diary/introspection (not on spec)
• What are questionnaires?


  pre set list of written questions to which participant responds
• What kind of questions can be asked in a questionnaire?

  open or closed
• What are characteristics of open questions?

  • no fixed range of answers
  • free to answer in any way
  • typically produces qualitative data
• What are characteristics of closed questions?

  • fixed number of responses
  • answers may be 'yes'/'no' or a scale
  • produces quantitative data
• What are the pros of questionnaires?

  • cost effective --> gather lots of data with minimal input
  • straightforward to replicate
  • no investigator effects
  • people may feel more anonymous --> happy to share personal info
  • open questions can gain richer detail --> not limited
• What are the cons of questionnaires?

  • responses may not be truthful due to:

  1. social desirability bias
  2. demand characteristics
  3. response bias

  • participants may not understand Q's --> no chance to explain
  • biased sample --> whoever completes questionnaire
• What are characteristics of structured interviews?

  • pre-determined set of Q's
  • asked in a fixed order
  • real time (interviewer asks Q and waits for response)
• What are characteristics of structured interviews?

  • no set questions (but general aim of topic)
  • interaction free flowing
  • interviewee encourages to expand on their answers
• What are characteristics of semi-structured interviews?

  • like sorts of interviews in every day life (e.g. job)
  • list of Q's but interviewer free to ask follow up Q's based on previous answers
• What are pros of structured interviews?

  • straightforward to replicate
  • straightforward data analysis
  • interviewer doesn't have to be trained/skilled
• What are pros of unstructured interviews?

  • interviewee can explain answers + deviate from Q's
  • skilled interviewer can build rapport --> relaxed + open interviewee
• What are the cons of a structured interview?

  • interviewee cannot explain answers/deviate from Q's

  --> reduced richness of data
• What are the cons of an unstructured interview?

  • interviewer must be highly trained --> expensive
  • replication + data analysis not straightforward
  • interviewer bias
  • investigator effects
• What is a con that applies to all interview types?

  responses may not be truthful
• What type of closed Q's can you have on a questionnaire?

  • likert scales
  • rating scales
  • fixed option scales
• How does a likert scale work?

  respondent indicates their agreement with a statement
• How does a rating scale work?

  respondent identifies a value that represents their strength of feeling
• How does a fixed option scale work?

  includes a list of possible options and respondent indicates which applies to them
• What should a good Q avoid?

  • jargon
  • emotive language
  • leading questions
  • double barrelled questions
  • double negatives