self-reporting design/technique

• What is the definition of a self-reporting design?

  participants provide information about themselves without interviewer interference
• What is the definition of a questionnaire?

  pre-set list of written questions for a participant to respond to
• What is the definition of a closed question?

  fixed options of response = quantitative

  e.g, do you like dogs: yes/no

  • easier to analyse but lacks detail
• What is the definition of open questions

  no fixed response = qualitative

  e.g, why do you like dogs?

  • detailed but harder to analyse
• What considerations must be taken into account when creating a questionnaire?

  • Clarity of aim
  • Short length
  • Question format (closed/open - mix for more representative)
  • Measurement scales (likert/rating)
• What are the measurement scales used to design a closed question?

  • Likert scale - respondent states how much they agree with a written statement (often on a scale of 1-5)
  • Rating scale - respondent states how much they agree with a written statement by labeling the scale themselves
• What is the definition of a fixed-choice option?

  researcher includes a list of possible options and respondent indicates which applied best to them
• What are the strengths of a questionnaire?

  • Quick method to gather data
  • Lack investigator effects
  • Cost-effective
  • Both quantitative/qualitative data
  • Replicable - use of standardised questions = reliable
• What are the weaknesses of a questionnaire?

  • possible misinterpretation of questions
  • biased as characteristics of people who fill in questionnaires less representative
  • social desirability/demand characteristics - respond on how they think they are expected to
  • response bias on measurement scales (e.g, likert - just tick all the same)
• What is the definition of an interview?

  participants answer questions orally, face-to-face of researcher
• What is the definition of a structured interview?

  use predetermined set of questions that are in a fixed order
• What is the definition of an unstructured interview?

  no set questions, only a general aim - take form of convo
• What is the definition of a semi-structured interview?

  Use a pre-determined set of questions but may use follow up question + varying order where appropriate
• What are the advantages of an interview?

  • ease misunderstanding
  • detailed
  • data analysis - uses both qualitative and quantitative
  • replication - structured
• What are the weaknesses of an interview?

  • Interviewer effects - demand characteristics
  • Requires skill
  • Time-consuming
  • Ethics - if the aim is unknown may be troubling to the participant
  • Structured = difficult to elaborate
  • Unstructured = difficult to analyse
• What factors must be considered when creating an interview?

  • Schedule
  • Standardised to reduce interviewer bias
  • Amount of interviewees
  • Confidentiality for protection from prejudice when writing up (gender/ethinicity/name)
• What factors must be avoided in an interview?

  • Emotive language - subjective + interviewer bias
  • Leading questions - suggesting a response can lead to demand characteristics
  • Double-barrelled questions - can cause complication/misinterpretatation
  • Double negatives (e.g. are you not unhappy?)
  • Jargon - engagement barrier if use of specialised terms that are not universally known