Self - Report Methods

Question 1

What are self reporting techniques?

Answer 1

When a participant reveals personal information about themselves when answering a series of questions

Question 2

How is information usually collected in self reporting methods?

Answer 2

Information is usually collected by questionnaires or interviews

Question 3

How many types of self report methods are there? What is each one called?

Answer 3

There are four: Questionnaires, Structured Interviews, Unstructured interviews and Semi structured interviews

Question 4

What type of questions do questionnaires have?

Answer 4

Questionnaires have open and close ended questions

Question 5

What are open ended questions? Are open ended questions higher or lower in validity?

Answer 5

Questions that allow participants to write down their own answers. Seen to have more validity.

Question 6

What type of data is produced from open ended questions?

Answer 6

Qualitative data

Question 7

What is qualitative data? One strength + One weakness of this form of data?

Answer 7

Qualitative data is data which is not numerical. Can make analysis difficult due to the amount of information to review however can provide great depth and insight into answers

Question 8

What are close ended questions? Higher or lower in validity?

Answer 8

Close ended questions provide participants with selection of answers to choose from. Seems less valid as selection of answers are pre determined

Question 9

What is quantitative data? One strength + One limitation

Answer 9

Quantitative data is numerical data. It is easier to analyse and spot patterns with this type of data. However the level of detail and insight is lost

Question 10

What is involved in structured interviews?

Answer 10

In this interview style, the interviewer reads a list of prepared questions for participants to answer. There are no deviations from the prepared questions

Question 11

What are two limitations of structured interviews? (relevance + more info)

Answer 11

1. The pre determined questions that are asked may not provide relevant data required for the investigation limiting the information collected and reducing the internal validity of the interview
2. In this interview style, the researcher cannot deviate from the prepared questions. This means responses from the participants cannot be followed up with additional questions for additional information.

Question 12

What are two strengths of structured interviews? (easy compare + cost)

Answer 12

1. This interview style makes participants’ answers easy to compare as the same questions are asked to each participant
2. This interviews style is cost effective as the interviews does not require extensive training in order to ask the participants questions

Question 13

What is involved in unstructured interviews?

Answer 13

In unstructured interviews, there is a topic of interest that the interviews wants to discuss with the interviewee.

No set list of questions is made

Open conversation is had and allows the interviewer to ask specific questions to the interviewee and gain further information.

Question 14

What are two limitations of unstructured interviews? (data analysis + skills)

Answer 14

1. In unstructured interviews, the interviews has to be skilled in order to ask suitable questions on the spot. This also means they need specific training in order to avoid asking questions that are leading or biased. This makes this interview style more cost consuming.
2. The data collected will be hard to analyse after as each interview will be different depending on the person and line of questioning

Question 15

What are two strengths of unstructured interviews? (follow up qs + rapport)

Answer 15

1. In this type of interview, the interviewer is allowed to ask follow up questions if the participants have something interesting to say. This allows the interviews to collect a lot of information to analyse after the interview.
2. With this interview style, the interviewer is able to build a rapport with the interviewee, which allows for more honest answers thus increasing the validity of the interview

Question 16

What is involved semi structured interviews?

Answer 16

Semi structured interviews are a combination of a set questions and the ability to ask extra questions to gather more information.

This interview style allows the interviewer to ask further questions, if it beneficial to the interview

Question 17

What are two limitations of semi structured interviews? (specific skills + cost)

Answer 17

1. This interview style is not cost effective as the interviewer requires a set of skills to avoid asking leading or loaded questions, therefore specific training is needed before doing the interview
2. Interviewer needs to be responsive to the participant and able to ask suitable questions. If they lack the correct training they could struggle to build a good rapport with the interviewee

Question 18

What are two strengths of semi structured interviews? (rapport + more info)

Answer 18

1. Semi structured interview allow the interviewer to build a rapport as more questions can be asked, leading to the interviewee feeling more relaxed.
2. In the interview, the interview can ask the interviewee to expand on answers or by asking further questions. The style of interviews also allows comparison between answers easier than an unstructured interview