Self-report design

• Likert scales - questionnaires


  • Respondents indicate their agreement with a statement using a scale of usually 5 points.
  • Scale usually ranges from strongly agree to strongly disagree.
• Rating scales - questionnaires

  Respondents are made to identify a value that represents their strength of feeling about a topic.
• Fixed-choice option - questionnaires

  Includes a list of possible answers and respondents are required to indicate those that apply to them.
• Interview schedule - interviews

  A standardised list of questions that the interviewer need to cover which can reduce interviewer bias.
• Quiet room - interviews

  Away from other people, as this will increase the likelihood that the interviewee will open up.
• Rapport - interviews

  Begin with neutral questions to make the interviewee more relaxed and comfortable.
• Ethics - interviews

  Remind interviewees that answers will be treated in confidence.
• Overuse of jargon - writing good questions

  Technical terms that are only familiar to those within a specialised area.
• Emotive language and leading questions - writing good questions

  A researchers attitude towards a topic is clear from the way the question is phrased.
• Double-barrelled questions and double negatives - writing good questions

  Contains two questions in one and participants may agree with one half of the question but not the other half.