self report

Question 1

3 question designs

Answer 1

likert scales - require the respondent to say how much they agree with a statement

rating scale - using numerical scale to rate or rank something

fixed option - multiple choice with predetermined options

Question 2

features of a good questionnaire

Answer 2

• not too long or arduous
• no ambiguous or double barrelled questions
• not have emotive questions
• avoid using leading questions
• not have too much jargon
• not have double negatives
• be simple and easy to understand

Question 3

strengths of questionnaires

Answer 3

• collect a large amount of data very quickly
• highly reliable, can be replicated with no error, given to large number of participants
• produces data that is easy to analyse

Question 4

limitations of questionnaires

Answer 4

• social desirability, socially acceptable answers decrease validity, responses may not be truthful due to need to seem normal or nice
• response bias (aquiescence), lowers validity, people tend to get bored and just click ‘yes’ etc for everything
• low reliability of ambiguous questions involving rating scales, we do not all have the same idea of what specific values or numbers mean

Question 5

types of interviews

Answer 5

structured -
- pre-set questions asked in a predetermined order

unstructured -
- seems more like a conversation, more open questions and each answer determines next question
- participants encouraged to elaborate on answers
- useful for qualitative data, based on meaning

semi-structured -
- combines best of both forms
- some pre-set questions but some free flowing, room for elaboration and to ask follow up questions

Question 6

features of a good interview

Answer 6

• have an interview schedule so the interviewer always knows what they should be covering
• be standardised for ever participant to reduce interviewer bias
• involve note taking
• not be too long or arduous to complete
• have no ambiguous or double barrelled questions
• not have emotive questions
• avoid using leading questions
• not have too much jargon
• not have double negatives
• be simple and easy to understand

Question 7

strengths of interviews

Answer 7

structured - easy to replicate

semi/unstructured - generate more qualitative data due to development of new questions

both - generate lots of data, both verbal and non verbal, generate more honest answers if researcher builds rapport

Question 8

limitations of interviews

Answer 8

structured - restricted to pre-set questions so can’t elaborate

semi/unstructured - hard to analyse due to different questions between interviewees

both - social desirability means data isn’t always accurate, expensive and time consuming, hard to draw conclusions due to generation of qualitative data

Question 9

pilot studies

Answer 9

• a small scale ‘dry run’ of the investigation
• would be conducted with a small group of participants to determine questions are clear, ethical and understandable
• any questions that don’t meet this criteria would be re-written, perhaps as a result of suggestions from participants