What are the types of self-report method?
Interviews & questionnaires
What is the definition of an interview?
When a researcher is present and is verbally and directly asking a participant questions
What are the different types of interview?
Unstructured, semi-structured and structured
What is the definition of an unstructured interview?
When there is a clearly defined general topic of discussion but there are no pre-set questions
What are the strengths of an unstructured interview?
- obtains ecologically valid results
- less likely for demand characteristics
- more likely to give honest answers
What are the weaknesses of an unstructured interview?
- very reliant on the skills of the interview
- not possible to replicate - making results unreliable
What is the definition of a semi-structured interview?
When there is a clearly defined general topic of discussion with some set questions (these are asked each time the interview is conducted) however follow up questions are asked
What are the strengths of a semi-structured interview?
- interview flows like a normal conversation - this makes participants more likely to give ecologically valid answers
- less influenced by demand characteristics
- more reliable than unstructured due to the set questions
What are the weaknesses of a semi-structured interview?
- reliant on the skills of the interviewer - if they are not trained then they could miss the opportunity to find out the real reasons for behaviour
- time-consuming
- comparing the data (qualitative) is harder to do whilst maintaining validity due to subjective interpretation
What is the definition of a structured interview?
When there is a clearly defined topic of discussion with pre-set questions in a pre-determined order
What are the strengths of a structured interview?
- most reliable
- interview is replicable
- produces quantitative data which is easy to analyse and compare
What are the weaknesses of a structured interview?
- more likely to have demand characteristics (due to formality)
- doesn’t allow the participants to expand on their answers
- data may not be as valid
What is the definition of a questionnaire?
Typically a paper set of questions (can be online) that participants complete and then give back to the researcher
What is a pilot study?
A small scaled version of the intended study using the questionnaire on a smaller sample of participants
Why is using a pilot study useful?
Allows the questionnaire to be modified if there were any confusing questions which gave irrelevant data that is not useful to the investigation
What are common problems which can be solved in a pilot study?
- unclear instructions
- badly worded questions
- too long
- leading questions
- use of complex vocabulary
What are the strengths of a questionnaire?
- effective and convenient
- collects a lot of data very quickly
- usually produce quantitative data which is easy to analyse and compare
- results are objective making researcher bias less likely
What are the weaknesses of a questionnaire?
- low response rate
- bias sample (lacking population validity)
- social desirability
- extraneous variables (such as someone helping them fill out the questionnaire)
What are the types of questions used in self-report methods?
Open and closed
What is the definition of an open question?
Questions which allow participants to expand on their answers and provide as much detail as they wish.
What are strengths of open questions?
- more likely to find out the reasons for behaviour (making results more valid)
- open questions are more realistic therefore making results more ecologically valid
What are weaknesses of open questions?
- difficult to analyse due to it producing qualitative data
- data is subjective making researcher bias more likely to affect validity of the results
- comparisons are difficult
What is the definition of closed questions?
Questions which allow participants to select answers from pre-determined options
What are the types of closed questions?
- forced/ fixed choice
- Likert scale
- rating scale
- ranking scale
- check list
- semantic differential rating scale
