L3 - Self-Report Techniques Flashcards
what is SELF REPORT?
SELF REPORT is when pps PROVIDE DETAILS OF THEIR OWN FEELINGS, THOUGHTS and/or BEHAVIOUR TO THE RESEARCHER
what are INTERVIEWS?
INTERVIEWS are a TYPE OF SELF REPORT that involves researchers ASKING QUESTIONS in FACE TO FACE SITUATIONS
what is a STRUCTURED INTERVIEW?
all pps are ASKED THE SAME QUESTIONS in the SAME ORDER.
This provides QUANTITATIVE DATA, which is data that can be COUNTED or EXPRESSED NUMERICALLY
what is an UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEW?
an INFORMAL IN DEPTH CONVERSATIONAL EXCHANGE between the INTERVIEWER and INTERVIEWEE
This provides QUALITATIVE DATA, NON NUMERICAL DATA that USES WORDS to give a DESCRIPTION of what people THINK/FEEL
what is a SEMI STRUCTURED INTERVIEW?
this type of interview COMBINES A MIXTURE of STRUCTURED AND UNSTRUCTURED TECHNIQUES (quantitative and qualitative data)
what are the ADVANTAGES of a SEMI STRUCTURED INTERVIEW?
1) COMPLICATED or SENSITIVE ISSUES are BEST DEALT WITH in an interview
2) if pps MISUNDERSTAND A QUESTION this CAN BE CLARIFIED
what are the DISADVANTAGES of a SEMI STRUCTURED INTERVIEW?
1) there is a RISK OF INTERVIEWER EFFECTS (when the interviewer inadvertently affects respondent’s answers) - this can be UNINTENTIONAL and may even be a RESULT OF THE INTERVIEWER’S APPEARANCE, MANNER OR GENDER
2) there is also a risk of SOCIAL DESIRABILITY BIAS - this is when people LIE to PRESENT THEMSELVES IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, this would mean that DATA LACKS VALIDITY
3) TRAINING IS NEEDED for INTERVIEWERS and the PROCESS CAN BE TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE
what are QUESTIONNAIRES?
pps are given a WRITTEN SET OF QUESTIONS and INSTRUCTIONS about HOW TO RECORD THEIR ANSWERS
QUESTIONNAIRES mainly focus on the INDIVIDUAL’S BEHAVIOUR, OPINIONS, BELIEFS and ATTITUDES
what are CLOSED QUESTIONS?
CLOSED QUESTIONS require pps to answer YES/NO or choose from FIXED RESPONSES (quantitative data)
Researchers are able to COLLATE and DISPLAY the information collected EASILY. CLOSED QUESTIONS make it EASY TO COMPARE RESPONSES to questions answered.
what are OPEN QUESTIONS?
OPEN QUESTIONS allow the pp to ANSWER IN THEIR OWN WORDS (QUALITATIVE DATA).
Open questions allow respondents to INTERPRET THE QUESTION AS THEY WISH TO and DEVELOP THEIR RESPONSE with DETAIL or DEPTH - so there is LOTS OF INFORMATION RECEIVED.
Open questions allow the researchers to PURSUE A LINE OF ENQUIRY that they may NOT HAVE PREDICTED but which comes to light BECAUSE OF A RESPONDENT’S ANSWER
what are the ADVANTAGES of a QUESTIONNAIRE?
1) it is possible to COLLECT A LARGE AMOUNT OF DATA RELATIVELY QUICKLY
2) QUESTIONNAIRES are EASY TO SCORE/COLLATE when the QUESTIONS ARE CLOSED
3) QUESTIONNAIRES are STANDARDISED so it is EASY TO REPLICATE
what are the DISADVANTAGES of a QUESTIONNAIRE?
1) pps may MISUNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS and the RESEARCHER IS NOT THERE TO CLARIFY
2) questionnaires can have a LOW RESPONSE RATE
3) questionnaires can have a BIASED SAMPLE as they are only suitable for PEOPLE WHO CAN READ and are WILLING TO SPEND THE TIME ON THEM. Certain types of people would be MORE WILLING TO FILL IN QUESTIONNAIRES and so the SAMPLE MAY NOT BE REPRESENTATIVE of the TARGET POPULATION
