4.2.3 SELF-REPORT TECHNIQUES Flashcards
what are self-report techniques?
- self reporting techniques are when the ppts reveal personal information about themselves when answering a series of questions
- these are usually collected by either questionnaire or interviews
what is a questionnaire and what can it do?
- set of written questions designed to collect information
- can be carried out face to face, via post or online / telephone
- used to access the DV
- discovers what people think or feel (no guessing work like
observations) - always pre-determined (structured)
- can provide qualitative and quantitative data
- more qualitative data is collected rather than quantitative
what are the pros of a questionnaire?
- once designed, they’re availed for quick use and are cheap
- respondents may feel comfortable to recall personal / confidential information
- can be completed without the investigator being present
- reduces experimenter bias which can be found in interviews
- no special training is needed to hand out questionnaires
- questionnaires with open questions can provide unexpected answers which can lead to further research
- but are harder to summarise
- can gather large amounts of information cheaply and quickly
what are the cons of a questionnaire?
- can only be filled out by those who can read and write
- questionnaires using closed questions limit the responses
- but are easier to summarise
- Social Desirability Bias - answering questions in a way you’re deemed ‘socially acceptable’
- people can lie
- Acquienscene Bias - when a ppt just ticks ‘ yes’ and agrees with all questions
what are ethical issues of questionnaires?
- researcher must ensure that the info provided by the respondent is kept confidential (eg. name / address / etc)
- good for researching sensitive topics as respondents will be honest when they cannot be identified
- keeping the questionnaire confidential should also reduce the likelihood of any psychological harm, such as embarrassment
- ppts must provide informed consent prior to completing the questionnaire
- must be aware that they have the right to withdraw their info at
any time during the survey / study
what are the problems with postal questionnaires?
- data might not be valid
- we can never be sure that the right person actually completed the postal questionnaire
- may not be representative of the population they’re studying
- some questionnaires may be lost in the post reducing the sample
size - the questionnaire may be completed by someone who’s not a member of the research population
- those with strong views on the questionnaire’s subject are more likely to complete it than those with no interest in it
what’s an interview and what can it do?
- can collect quantitative data
- asks questions
- can ask for more info than a questionnaire
- interviews are face to face
- are often recorded by the researcher and the data written up as a transcript (a written account of interview questions and answers
- can be analysed at a later date
what is a structured interview?
- has pre-determined closed ended questions
- essentially is a spoken questionnaire (telephone / in person)
- no deviation from the original questions
- quantitative research method
- same questions are asked to each interviewee in the same order
- aka: formal interview
what are some strengths of a structured interview?
1) easy to replicate
- fixed set of closed questions used
- easy to quantify
- means it’s easy to test for reliability
2) fairly quick to conduct
- many interview can take place within a short amount of time
- means a large sample can be obtained
- findings will be representative
- have the ability to be generalised to a large population
what are some limitations of a structured interview?
1) not flexible
- new questions can’t be asked impromptu
- interview schedule must be followed
2) answers lack detail
- only closed questions are asked
- generates only quantitative data
- a researcher won’t know why a person behaves in a certain way
3) interviewer bias
- if interviewer behaves differently / different interviewer
- makes compatibility difficult
what’s an unstructured interview?
- new questions are developed during the course of the interview
- interviewer may begin with general aims and possibly a few pre-determined questions
- subsequent questions develop on the basis of the answers given
- works more like a conversation between the interviewer / investigator and participant
- sometimes called informal interviews or discovery interviews
- open-ended questions based on a specific research topic are asked
what are some strengths of an unstructured interview?
1) more flexible as questions can be adapted and changed depending on answers given
- interviewer can deviate from the interview schedule
2) generate qualitative data through the use of open questions
- allows the respondent to talk in some depth, choosing own words
- helps the researcher develop a real sense of a person’s understanding of a situation
3) have increased validaty
- gives the interviewer the opportunity to probe for deeper understanding / clarification /allow the interviewee to steer the direction of the interview
what are some limitations of an unstructured interview?
1) can be time-consuming to conduct and analyse the qualitative data
2) employing and training interviewers is expensive
- not as cheap as collecting data from questionnaires
3) questions may lack objectivity due to the quick nature of creating the questions
what’s a semi-structured interview?
- many interviews fall between the two types mentioned
- the sort of interview you’re likely to encounter in everyday life
- eg) like a job interview
- there’s a lost of questions that have been worked out in advance but interviewers are also free to ask follow up questions when they feel it’s appropriate
what are 3 strengths of a semi-structured interview?
1) comparison is easier than for an unstructured interview
-> as the same questions are asked for part of the interview
2) interviewer can gather more info by asking further questions or asking the ppt to expand on the answers they’ve given
3) relationships can be built as the interviewer can ask more questions and relax the interviewee
