Research Methods-Self Reports

Question 1

Define Questionnaire

Answer 1

Asking people to write about themselves

Question 2

Define Interviews

Answer 2

Asking people to talk about themselves

Question 3

Define Structured Interviews

Answer 3

A researcher uses a list of pre-set questions and participants choose their response from a list of fixed alternative responses

Question 4

Define Semi-structured Interviews

Answer 4

A researcher uses a list of pre-set questions but the participants’ responses are not fixed as they can express their own views.

Question 5

Define Open-ended Interviews

Answer 5

A researcher will not use pre-set questions instead asking participants to comment on a particular topic in their own words allowing them to express their views freely.

Question 6

Define Open-ended Questions

Answer 6

Invite people to describe what they think or feel about a particular topic in their own words.

Question 7

Define Closed Questions

Answer 7

Force people to choose from a list of possible answers.

Question 8

Define Clarity

Answer 8

Questions must be written clearly so that the respondents can understand them. Otherwise, the answers are meaningless which reduces the validity.

Question 9

Define Bias

Answer 9

Must be careful to avoid leading questions as these effect reliability.

Question 10

Define Social Desirability

Answer 10

When people answer questions in a way that will make them look better. Researchers sometimes include a lie scale to ensure that responses provided are valid and not as a result of social desirability bias.

Question 11

Define Ethics

Answer 11

Ethical guidelines must be observed at all times. The questions must be mindful not to cause psychological harm by invading the participants privacy, causing them embarrassment or potentially lowering their self-esteem.

Question 12

Define Data Analysis

Answer 12

Open questions allow respondents to provide their own answers which produces qualitative data. Closed questions provide limited choices for participants and result in qualitative data.

Question 13

Define Rating Scale

Answer 13

A numerical scale on which a participant indicates a choice by selecting one number providing quantitative data.

Question 14

Define Likert Scale

Answer 14

A type of question that measures attitudes using a statement which participants respond by choosing an option, typically from choices of strongly agree, agree etc….

Question 15

Define Semantic Differential Scale

Answer 15

The participant rates their response between two opposing pair of descriptive words such as weak and strong or honest and dishonest.

Question 16

List advantages of open-ended questions

Answer 16

Gathers qualitative data which allows the respondents to freely express their views/opinions so provides us with detailed, in depth descriptions. This makes the data more valid as we know why they have that opinion.

Question 17

List disadvantages of open-ended questions

Answer 17

Qualitative data is difficult to statistically analyse and compare with other respondents views which lowers the reliability as individual responses will differ according to individual differences.

Question 18

List advantages of closed questions

Answer 18

Gathers quantitative data which allows easy statistical analysis to draw clear conclusions. Increases validity because the accuracy of measuring thoughts and feelings will not be reduced by any bias interpretation.

Question 19

List disadvantages of closed questions

Answer 19

Numbers do not provide reasons behind feelings/thoughts as they lack in-depth descriptions. This lowers validity because the research may not be testing what it intends to test if there is a lack of understanding / depth about the feelings/thoughts being studies.

Question 20

List advantages of questionnaires

Answer 20

Allows researcher to find out things that cannot be easily discovered by experimentation or observation. This makes it more valid because we are measuring views/ opinions first hand.

Question 21

List disadvantages of questionnaires

Answer 21

Participants may not respond truthfully if they wish to present themselves in a socially acceptable manner . This reduces validity as we are not measuring what was intended to be measured.

Question 22

List advantages to a structured interview

Answer 22

Allow standardised procedure to be followed so results are more reliable and the responses should be consistent

Question 23

List disadvantages to a structured interview

Answer 23

Participants may not respond truthfully if they wish to present themselves in a socially acceptable manner . This reduces validity as we are not measuring what was intended to be measured.

Question 24

List advantages to an unstructured interview

Answer 24

Provide information that is more spontaneous and realistic and the data offers insight into a persons beliefs and attitudes which increases the validity.

Question 25

List disadvantages to an unstructured interview

Answer 25

Participants may not respond truthfully if they wish to present themselves in a socially acceptable manner . This reduces validity as we are not measuring what was intended to be measured.

Question 26

List advantages to a semi-structured interview

Answer 26

Allows standardised procedure to be used whilst gaining more spontaneous and realistic answers. This means the responses should be consistent making it more reliable.

Question 27

List disadvantages to a semi-structured interview

Answer 27

Participants may not respond truthfully if they wish to present themselves in a socially acceptable manner . This reduces validity as we are not measuring what was intended to be measured.