L8 - Survey Methods

Question 1

What is a survey?

Answer 1

• Descriptive method where ppts are asked questions or given statements to rate

Question 2

What do surveys measure?

Answer 2

• Anything that can be observed, evaluated and reported accurately
• They are good for measuring things that are hard to induce or observe, like attitudes

Question 3

What methods are there for surveying?

Answer 3

• Interviews: face to face; clarification and follow up questions available
• Phone surveys: questions on phone, reduces cost
• Questionnaires: written questions via the internet, post or phone

Question 4

What issues are there with surveys?

Answer 4

• Correlation & Causation: can be fixed with longitudinal studies
• Third variable: can be addressed with stats techniques

Question 5

What biases are present in psychological research?

Answer 5

• Interviewer bias: interviewer’s behaviour influences responses
• Subject bias: behaviour of subjects is influenced by their beliefs of how they are supposed to behave.
• Social desirability bias: social desirability influences behaviours

Question 6

What are the three types of probability sampling?

Answer 6

• Simple random
• Stratified
• Cluster

Question 7

What are the types of nonprobability sampling?

Answer 7

• Convenience: requests volunteers from a group who meet the requirements of the study
• Snowball: Old ppts recruit new ones
• Purposive: researcher targets a particular group
• Quota: Like stratified, but not randomised.

Question 8

What are the cognitive functions for a participant in a questionnaire?

Answer 8

• Understanding questions
• Retrieving relevant info
• Forming judgement
• Formatting judgement to fit response alternatives
• Editing answer

Question 9

What are the rules for designing survey questions?

Answer 9

• Avoid ambiguity
• No leading questions
• Don’t ask 2 questions in one
• Aim for simplicity
• Use complete sentences
• Avoid slang

Question 10

What are cognitive interviews?

Answer 10

• Tools to evaluate survey questions
• Used for eyewitness testimonies for accurate memory
• Used for pilot studies

Question 11

What is factor analysis? What is it used for?

Answer 11

• Multivariate analysis where many variables are correlated
• Allows identification of which survey questions cluster together to form a scale

Question 12

How do you measure reliability of survey questions?

Answer 12

• Inter-rater reliability: correlation between 2 researchers
• Test-retest: correlation bvetween test scores in different times
• Split half: correlation between scores of first and second half of the test.

Question 13

How do you measure validity of survey questions?

Answer 13

• Convergent: correlation between accepted measures including Concurrent validity and Predictive validity
• Discriminant: No correlation with measure of some other construct.