Doing Psychology 7.1

Question 1

What is a questionnaire? (1 sentence)

Answer 1

Structured list of questions, self-administered

Question 2

Advantages of questionnaires (6)

Answer 2

• Large sample (can use social media / undergraduate students to recruit)
• Can do from home/easily accessible
• Include diverse population of participants - wide geographical distribution
• Quick and easy to distribute
• Standardized questionnaires - very easy to compare findings
• Anonymity
• Can assess people’s attitudes

Question 3

Disadvantages of questionnaires (2)

Answer 3

Questions can be misleading/confusing for participants
Inaccuracy of responses

Question 4

What information could researchers need from participants in a questionnaire? (3)

Answer 4

Age
Gender
Independent/dependent variables

Question 5

What are two types of questionnaires? (q’s)

Answer 5

Qualitative - personalized behaviour
Quantitative - numerical information

Question 6

What types of closed questions can there be in questionnaires? (9)

Answer 6

Multiple choice (closed)
Rating scales (numerical/words)
Continual scales
Interval data
Ordinal values
Agreement scales
Semantic differential: two opposing words associated with a scale
Ranking order

Question 7

What types of open questions can there be in questionnaires? (9)

Answer 7

Number
Text

Question 8

What are the advantages and disadvantages of open-ended questions? (2 each)

Answer 8

• allows people to give full answer + provide extra detail
• unanticipated answers
• difficult to code
• justification of decision not always given

Question 9

What are the advantages and disadvantages of close-ended questions? (2 each)

Answer 9

No coding involved
Reliable - can compare to other questionnaires in the past

Miss out on potentially useful information due to restriction of answer options
Applicability may vary depending on participants

Question 10

What is a reliability check and how can it be done?

Answer 10

Reversing the same question and seeing if the response is the same
Can detect whether participants are answering truthfully/carelessly

Question 11

What are key requirements of selection criteria? (9)

Answer 11

Mutually exclusive
Exhaustive
Allow ‘I don’t know’
Avoid complex questions e.g. double negative
More information in question, less in responses to avoid confusion
Avoid questions that require prior knowledge
Avoid leading questions
Anonymity
Order of questions