Research Methods Key Terms

Question 1

Self-report Technique

Answer 1

A method where people state or explain their own thoughts/feelings that relate to a given topic

Question 2

Social-desirability bias

Answer 2

Participants fail to report social undesirable behaviours to appear more likeable

Question 3

Demand Characteristics

Answer 3

Participants subconsciously change answers after forming idea of what experiment may be about

Question 4

Response Bias

Answer 4

Responses are biased due to another external factor

Question 5

Acquiescence bias

Answer 5

Individuals are likely to agree with something regardless of how they feel, and agree with the survey questions rather than own thoughts

Question 6

Qualitative data

Answer 6

Language based data collection expressed through words, non-numerical

Question 7

Quantitative data

Answer 7

Numerical data that can be statistically analysed

Question 8

Open questions

Answer 8

Can add detail to it
More information can be given
Cannot be compared easily

Question 9

Closed questions

Answer 9

Comparable data
Can’t easily find out extra information, have to follow a script

Question 10

Interviews

Answer 10

Effort from researcher
Can see the participant and gauge responses

Question 11

Structured interview

Answer 11

Can be replicated
Standardised, reduced difference between interviewers
Can’t deviate from the topic or explain questions: limits amount of data collected

Question 12

Unstructured interview

Answer 12

More flexible
Follow up points as they arise
Unexpected information
Interviewer bias
Not easy to analyse the data given
Irrelevant information may be given
Lying for sake of being liked: however, rapport should be built so there are truthful responses given

Question 13

Semi-structured interview

Answer 13

Follow up questions can be asked
Not easy to compare the data given as different questions asked
Some data can be compared on the questions in common between interviewees

Question 14

Questionnaires

Answer 14

Cost effective
Large amounts of data collected
Researcher doesn’t need to be present (effort involved is reduced)
Straightforward to analyse
Statistical analysis, comparisons can be made easily
Graphs and charts
May not always be truthful, want to present in positive light (underestimating frequency, for example)

Question 15

Likert Scale

Answer 15

Respondent indicates agreement with a statement using a scale ranging from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree, for example.

Question 16

Rating Scale

Answer 16

Works in a similar way, but participants identify a value that represents their strength of feeling about a topic (e.g entertaining to not at all entertaining

Question 17

Fixed-choice option

Answer 17

Includes a list of possible options, and the respondents indicate which of these options apply to them

Question 18

Interview Schedule

Answer 18

The list of questions that the interviewer wants to cover, and is standardised to avoid interviewer bias

Question 19

Interview bias

Answer 19

The expectations or opinions of the interviewer interferes with the judgment of the interviewee

Question 20

Leading question

Answer 20

Question that guides a respondent to a particular answer (e.g ‘Is it obvious that…’)

Question 21

Emotive Language

Answer 21

Emotive words stir a response in people. Need to be avoided, and neutral words should be used instead of accusing people of things, as this can affect the responses of the participant

Question 22

Double-Barreled questions

Answer 22

Two questions in one, participants may agree with one half of the question, and not with the other.