Research Methods- Self-report techniques Flashcards
Self-report technique -
Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviours and/or experiences related to a given topic.
Questionnaire -
A set of written questions (sometimes referred to as ‘items’) used to assess a person’s thoughts and/or experiences.
Interview -
A ‘live’ encounter (face-to-face or on the phone) where one person (the interviewer) asks a set of questions to assess an interviewee’s thoughts and/ or experiences. The questions may be pre-set (as in a structured interview) or may develop as the interview goes along (unstructured interview).
What is a questionnaire?
A questionnaire is a pre-set list of written questions or items to which participants respond, used to assess thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.
How are questionnaires used in experiments?
They can be used to assess the dependent variable, such as comparing views on recreational drug legalization between older and younger people.
What is an open question?
An open question allows respondents to answer freely without fixed response options, producing qualitative data rich in detail but harder to analyze.
What is an example of an open question?
“How did you feel during the energy drink experiment?”
What is a closed question?
A closed question offers fixed response options, such as “yes/no” or a rating scale, producing quantitative or qualitative data that is easier to analyze.
What is an example of a closed question?
“Did you feel more talkative after drinking the energy drink? (Yes/No)” or “Rate how sociable you felt on a scale of 1 to 10.”
What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data in questionnaires?
Qualitative data provides detailed, descriptive responses, while quantitative data involves numerical measurements that are easier to analyze statistically.
What is a structured interview?
A structured interview involves a pre-determined set of questions asked in a fixed order, similar to a questionnaire but conducted face-to-face or over the phone.
What is an unstructured interview?
An unstructured interview is a free-flowing conversation with no set questions, allowing the interviewee to elaborate on their responses.
What is a semi-structured interview?
A semi-structured interview combines fixed questions with the flexibility to ask follow-up questions, commonly used in job interviews.
What is a strength of questionnaires?
They are cost-effective, can gather large amounts of data quickly, and are easy to analyze, especially with closed questions.
What is a limitation of questionnaires?
Responses may not always be truthful due to social desirability bias or response bias, where participants answer in a similar way without reading questions carefully.
What is social desirability bias?
Social desirability bias occurs when respondents answer questions in a way that presents themselves in a positive light, rather than truthfully.
What is response bias?
Response bias occurs when respondents tend to reply in a similar way, such as always ticking “yes” or favoring one end of a rating scale.
What is a strength of structured interviews?
They are easy to replicate due to their standardized format and reduce differences between interviewers.
What is a limitation of structured interviews?
Interviewers cannot deviate from the script, which may frustrate participants and limit the depth of responses.
What is a strength of unstructured interviews?
They offer flexibility, allowing interviewers to follow up on points and gain deeper insight into the interviewee’s perspective.
What is a limitation of unstructured interviews?
Data analysis is challenging due to the lack of structure, and responses may include irrelevant information, making conclusions difficult to draw.
How can closed questions produce quantitative data?
By counting responses (e.g., the number of “yes” or “no” answers) or using rating scales to generate numerical data.
What is an example of a semi-structured interview?
A job interview with a list of prepared questions but the flexibility to ask follow-up questions based on the interviewee’s responses.
What is a limitation of questionnaires in terms of honesty?
Participants may lie or exaggerate responses to present themselves favorably, reducing the validity of the data.
How can interviewers reduce social desirability bias in unstructured interviews?
By building rapport with participants, encouraging honest responses, especially when discussing sensitive topics.
What is a strength of closed questions?
They produce data that is easy to analyze and compare, making them suitable for statistical analysis.
What is a limitation of open questions?
They produce qualitative data that is rich in detail but can be difficult to analyze and summarize.
What is a strength of face-to-face interviews over questionnaires?
They allow for deeper exploration of topics and clarification of responses, increasing the validity of the data.
What is a limitation of postal questionnaires?
They lack direct interaction, which may lead to misunderstandings or incomplete responses.
What is a strength of using rating scales in questionnaires?
They provide quantitative data that is easy to analyze and compare across participants or groups.
What is a limitation of fixed-choice questions?
They may limit participants’ ability to express nuanced or detailed responses, reducing the depth of the data.
What is a limitation of structured interviews in qualitative research?
They may lack flexibility, preventing participants from fully expressing their perspectives or elaborating on their responses.
What is a strength of unstructured interviews in qualitative research?
They provide rich, detailed insights into participants’ thoughts and experiences, enhancing the depth of the study.
What is a strength of semi-structured interviews?
They combine the structure of fixed questions with the flexibility to explore interesting points, balancing depth and consistency.
What is a limitation of semi-structured interviews?
They require skilled interviewers to balance structure and flexibility, which can be challenging to manage effectively.
