Self-Report Techniques

Question 1

explain a questionnaire?

Answer 1

• pre set list of written questions to asses thoughts/feelings
• may be used to assess a DV

Question 2

explain open questions?

Answer 2

• doesn’t have a fixed range of answers
• free to answer however
• can produce qualitative data, rich in depth + detail but difficult to analyse

Question 3

explain closed questions?

Answer 3

• fixed number of responses eg. yes or no
• or a scale from 1 to 10
• lacks depth and detail
• can produce quantitative data

Question 4

explain a structured interview?

Answer 4

• pre-determined set of questions asked in a fixed order

- like questionnaire but in real time

Question 5

explain an unstructured interview?

Answer 5

• no set questions
• general aims of topic are discussed, free-flowing
• encouraged to expand on answers

Question 6

explain a semi-structured interview?

Answer 6

• list of questions have been worked out, but interviewers ask follow up questions when appropriate
• free flow but always comes back to the questions

Question 7

evaluate strengths of questionnaires?

Answer 7

+cost effective
+gather large amounts of data quickly
+can be completed without researcher present
+data straightforward to analyse

Question 8

evaluate limitations of questionnaires?

Answer 8

• responses may not be truthful= seek social desirability
• often produce response bias as respondents reply in a similar way eg. always ticking yes
• may complete too quickly and fail to read questions

Question 9

evaluate structured interviews?

Answer 9

+easy to replicate due to standardised format
+reduces differences in interviewers
-not possible to deviate from questions= frustrating+ not in depth

Question 10

evaluate unstructured interviews?

Answer 10

+more flexibility, and can gain insight

• data analysis not easy as researcher has to go through irrelevant info
• interviewee may lie= social desirability