research methods - self-report techniques n design.

Question 1

What is meant by “self-report techniques”?

Answer 1

Method involving participants being asked questions.

Question 2

What is meant by “questionnaires”?

Answer 2

Self-reporting technique whereby a set of pre-determined questions are used to collect data.

Question 3

What is meant by “interview”?

Answer 3

Self-reporting technique whereby data is collected via a real-time interaction (face-to-face) which occurs between the interviewer and interviewee.

Question 4

What is meant by “closed questions”?

Answer 4

Questions where there is a fixed choice of responses.

Question 5

What is meant by “open questions”?

Answer 5

Questions which have no fixed choice of response and respondents can answer in any way they wish.

Question 6

What is meant by “likert scale”?

Answer 6

A bipolar scaling method which indicates the respondents agreement to a statement using a scale of 5 points ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree.

Question 7

What is meant by “rating scale”?

Answer 7

Gets respondents to identify a value that represents their strength of feeling about a particular topic.

Question 8

What is meant by “fixed choice option”?

Answer 8

Includes a list of possible options and respondents are required to indicate those that apply to them.

Question 9

In what ways can self-reporting be done?

Answer 9

• written in the form of a questionnaire.
• asked verbally in the form of an interview.

Question 10

Why may questionnaires be used?

Answer 10

• allows researcher to ask participants directly about their intentions and feelings.
• helps overcome the assumptive/guessing nature of observations.

Question 11

What are the strengths of questionnaires?

Answer 11

• large sample
  ↳ can be distributed to large number of people.
  ➝ good for generalisability.
• anonymous
  ↳ willing to share more personal information.
• reduced experimenter bias
  ↳ can answer without need for researcher present.

Question 12

What are the weaknesses of questionnaires?

Answer 12

• social desirability bias
  ↳ may not always be truthful or keen to present themselves in a positive light.
• acquiescence bias (response bias)
  ↳ respond in a similar way such as ticking yes or responding to rating scale in the same favourable way as they may be answering to quickly or not reading questions properly.

Question 13

What are the types of interviews?

Answer 13

• structured interviews.
• unstructured interviews.
• semi-structured interviews.

Question 14

What is a strength of structured interviews?

Answer 14

• standardised
  ↳ easier to replicate.
  ➝ answers can be compared.

Question 15

What are the weaknesses of structured interviews?

Answer 15

• unable to deviate from a topic or ask for elaboration.
• less detain obtained.

Question 16

What is a strength of unstructured interviews?

Answer 16

• more flexibility
  ↳ can ask follow up questions.
  ➝ more detailed insight obtained.

Question 17

What are the weaknesses of unstructured interviews?

Answer 17

• no straightforward analysis
  ↳ shift through irrelevant information
  ➝ difficult to draw up conclusions.
• requires skilled interviewers to come up with question and build rapport so sensitive/personal topics can be discussed.

Question 18

What is meant by “interview design”?

Answer 18

Involves an interview schedule - list of standardised questions

Question 19

What does an interview design consist of?

Answer 19

• interviewer may take notes or record the interview and analyse later.
• involves the interviewer and a single participant.
• should be conducted in a quiet room and away from other individuals.
• ask neutral questions to help establish rapport.
• reminder of ethical issues.