Self - report techniques

• what are self-report techniques?

  any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings , opinions , behaviours and / or experiences related to a particular topic
• what are questionaires?

  a set of written questions used to assess a person's thoughts and/or experiences
• what variables may questionnaires be used to assess?

  dependent variable
• what types of questions can be asked in questionnaires?

  open and closed
• what are the strengths and limitations of open questions?

  • Strengths : produces qualitative data = rich in depth + details , pps not restricted + can elaborate on their answers
  • Limitations : difficult to convert to statistical data + analyse
• what are the strengths and limitations of closed questions?

  • Strengths : easy to analyse + compare data + distinguish patterns within data
  • Limitations : lack depth + detail , limits pps answers which can be frustrating
• what are the strengths of questionnaires?

  • cost - effective
  • gathers large amounts of data quickly
  • researcher does not need to be present in completion of questionnaires
  • easy to analyse
  • responses can be anonymous
  • data can be converted statistically = comparisons can be made with charts + graphs
• what are the limitations of questionnaires?

  • responses may not be truthful due to bias
  • pps bias
  • acquiescence bias
  • long to design
  • difficult to assess validity
• why is it difficult to asses the validity of questionnaires?

  may be social desirability bias where pps want to present themselves in a positive light so may not be truthful however can be resolved by keeping identity anonymous (however target audience may not be reached)
• what is acquiescence bias?

  bias whereby pps simply agree with all questions regardless of the context as they are not putting in effort for answering and considering each question
• what are the 3 main types of interviews?

  structured , unstructured and semi - structured
• what are structured interviews ?

  interviewer asks a set of predetermined questions in a fixed order (face to face)
• what are unstructured interviews?

  similar to conversation , no set predetermined questions , there is a general aim and pps encouraged to elaborate on their answers ( questions are more tailored to individuals and is more free flowing )
• what is a semi-structured interview?

  there is a list of questions that have been worked out in advance but interviewers ask following questions based on previous answers
• what are the strengths of structured interviews?

  • easy to replicate due to standardised format
  • comparisons can be made btwn pps (useful at job interviews)
• what are the limitations of structured interviews ?

  • interviewer bias - presented through body language , listening skills + interpretative bias (how answers are recorded )
  • social desirability bias
  • pps not being able to elaborate on answers
• what are the strengths of unstructured interviews?

  • lots of data collected with more depth + detail
  • can be tailored to individuals = much more insight + not restricting
• what are the limitations of interviews ?

  • skilled interviewed needed
  • interviewer bias
  • difficult to make comparisons between pps
  • analysis of data difficult as may need to sift through lots of irrelevant data = drawing conclusions may be difficult