self report

• self report

  • where ppts report thier own behaviour as well as feelings and opinions
  • subjective - they are based on ppt views and opinions
• questionnaires


  • items should be clear
  • avoid double barrelled questions and emotive language
  • open ended or closed questions can be used
  • 3 guiding principles - clarity (qs need to be clear), no bias (could lead to specific responses) and analysis (qs must be written to be analsyed)
  • strength - quick, replicable
  • limitations - ppts may give socially desirable answers, ppts have a natural tendency to agree with items even if they dont
• structured interview


  • prepared qs asked in a fixed order
  • each ppts answers the same qs
  • easily replicated, easily to analyse as answers are more predictable
  • no chance to ask extra qs if an interesting issue arises
• unstructured interview


  • there is an aim but no fixed questions, researcher can ask any appropriate questions
  • produces more detailed data
  • expensive - need well trained interviewers to produce reliable data