Research Methods: Self Report Techniques

Question 1

What is a self report technique?

Answer 1

-Refers to any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviours and/or experiences related to given topic, this means that the data is coming directly from them, rather than the researcher/observer.

Question 2

Strengths of Self-Report Techniques (3)

Answer 2

-Can gather information about thoughts, feelings and experiences that aren’t directly observable.
-Easy to distribute to large samples (e.g. questionnaires)
-Flexible, can collect both qualitative and quantitative data

Question 3

Weaknesses of Self-Report Techniques (3)

Answer 3

-Social desirability bias- participants may give answers they think are acceptable
-Response bias- e.g., always agreeing or choosing similar answers
-Answers depend on honesty and memory, which may not be accurate

Question 4

Types of self-report techniques:

Answer 4

1.Questionnaires
2.Open and closed Questions

Question 5

What do questionnaires involve

Answer 5

-Involve a pre-set list of written questions (or items) to which the participant responds

Question 6

Why do psychologists use questionnaires

Answer 6

-To asesss thoughts and/or feelings

Question 7

Why might questionnaires be used as part of an experiment

Answer 7

-To assess the dependant variable
-For example, whether views on the legalisation of recreational drugs are different in older and younger people

Question 8

What are open and closed questions?

Answer 8

-A number of different possible styles of questions in a questionnaire but these can be broadly divided into open questions and closed questions

Question 9

What are open questions?

Answer 9

-does NOT have a fixed range of answers and respondents are free to answer in any way they wish
-open questions tend to produce qualitative data that is rich in depth and detail but may be difficult to analyse

Question 10

What are closed questions?

Answer 10

-a closed question offers a fixed number of possible answers
-closed questions produce numerical (quantitative) data because the responses are limited and easy to measure

Question 11

Types of closed questions:

Answer 11

1.Likert scales
2.Rating scales
3.Fixed-choice questions

Question 12

Strengths of Questionnaires:

Answer 12

-collects data from large samples quickly and cheaply
-easy to analyse (closed questions)
-can be anonymous- more honest responses
-allow for standardised questions, improving reliability

Question 13

Weaknesses of Questionnaires:

Answer 13

-social desirability bias- participants may not answer truthfully
-low response rates
-misunderstanding of questions can affect validity
-lack of depth in responses, especially with closed questions

Question 14

What are interviews?

Answer 14

-Is a self-report method where participants answer questions face to face, over the phone, or online.
-The researcher records responses about thoughts, feelings, or behaviours
-Interviews can provide detailed qualitative data

Question 15

Types of interviews are:

Answer 15

1.Structured Interviews
2.Unstructured Interviews

Question 16

What are structured interviews?

Answer 16

-use a set list of fixed questions to be asked in the sake order to ever participant
-makes data standardised and easy to compare, reducing interviewer bias
-however, responses can be less detailed and may not reflect the participant’s true feelings

Question 17

What are Unstructured interviews?

Answer 17

-are like guided conservations as the interviewer has general topics or questions to ask but they allow for flexibility to explore interesting answers in more depth.
-produce rich, detailed qualitative data, but can be harder to analyse and may include interviewer bias.

Question 18

Strengths of Interviews (4)

Answer 18

-can collect detailed, in depth data especially in unstructured interviews
-interview can clarify and explain questions
-flexible-can explore interesting or unexpected responses
-high validity, if participants feel comfortable and open

Question 19

Weaknesses of Interviews:

Answer 19

-time consuming to carry out and analyse
-interview bias may influence answers, especially in unstructured interviews
-social desirability bias- participants may give answers they think are acceptable
-harder to compare responses across participants, especially in unstructured formats