non-experimental - self reports Flashcards
what is involved in self-report
- ppts provide information about thoughts/feelings/behaviour
- involves ppts responding to questions in questionnaire/interview
- questionnaire = open/closed questions
- interview = structured/unstructured
describe what a questionnaire is
- forms part of surveys
- involves asking a large sample of people for info on specific topic
- pre-set list of written questions
- good representation of target population so able to generalise results
strength of questionnaires
tackles sensitive issues
- tackle sensitive issues e.g. homosexuality CONTEXT
- ppts can remain anonymous
- ppts more likely to be honest as happier to disclose sensitive information
- increasing internal validity
UNLIKE INTERVIEWS - researcher present and ppts may feel uncomfortable answering questions face to face truthfully
strength of questionnaires
reduced investigator effects
- researcher not present
- response to ppts answers not visible
- will not influence answers
UNLIKE INTERVIEWS - researcher present
- increases internal validity
strength of questionnaires
large quantity of people
- can be given to large quantity of people
- quick and easy
- researcher not present
- increasing generalisability of findings
UNLIKE INTERVIEWS - researcher has to be present
- to conduct interviews
- increases external validity of questionnaires
weakness of questionnaires
social desirability bias
- ppts may lie to present themselves in best possible light CONTEXT
- lowers internal validity
UNLIKE INTERVIEWS - researcher present
- ppts less likely to lie face to face
- can be minimised by making it anonymous
weakness of questionnaires
misinterpretation of questions
- researcher not present
- ppts may misinterpret questions
- cannot clarify with researcher
- could leave question/give invalid info
- researcher may also misinterpret answers
- lowers internal validity
UNLIKE INTERVIEWS - researcher present
- ppts can ask for clarification
- increasing IV
open questions
- ppts answer in own words
- detailed responses
- express views of behaviour/feelings
qualitative data
- non-numerical data
- full description of how ppts feel/think
- provides depth and detail
open questions produce…
qualitative data
2 types of questions in questionnaires
open and closed questions
closed questions OFTEN produce…
quantitative data
closed questions
- responses of ppts fixed
- e.g. yes/no or rating scales
quantitative data
numerical form data
writing closed questions
how many/how often/on a scale of 1-10
writing open questions
describe/explain/provide details on
yes/no questions are
closed but not quantitative
strength of open questions/qualitative data
AO3
- in depth, rich detailed data
- greater understanding of behaviour CONTEXT
strength of open questions/qualitative data
AO3
- in depth, rich detailed data
- greater understanding of behaviour CONTEXT
strength of open questions/qualitative data
AO3
- in depth, rich detailed data
- greater understanding of behaviour CONTEXT
strength of open questions/qualitative data
AO3
- in depth, rich detailed data
- greater understanding of behaviour CONTEXT
strength of closed questions/quantitative data
AO3
- easier to collect and analyse data
- allows comparisons
- conclusions made about behaviour CONTEXT
weakness of open questions/qualitative data
AO3
- researcher bias
- ppts responses CONTEXT open to subjective interpretation pf researcher
strength of closed questions/quantitative data
AO3
- lacks depth and insight into behaviour CONTEXT
- answers may lack validity - response bias where ppts reply in similar way
- e.g. always ticking yes/always rating 10
- lowers internal validity
designing questionnaires
- decide on type of data qualitative/quantitative/both
- decide on type of questions open/closed
- unambiguous/clear task and easy to understand - open - describe/explain
closed - how many/on a scale of 1-10 - include distractor questions
- to avoid demand characteristics - decide on order of questions e.g. easy questions first = ppts at ease
- pilot study to identify and amend problems
