Self-report Flashcards
self report method
involves psychologist asking questions to participants Only method that allows us to gather the thoughts and feelings of participants
questionnaires
a paper or computer based set of questions designed to collect information about a number of different topics
closed questions
generate quantitative data and restrict the answers given by the respondent to a set of options provided by the questionnaire
examples of closed questions
yes/no questions
tick lists
select the answer most applicable
rating scales
numerical scale whereby respondents can indicate the strength of their feeling towards something
examples of rating scales
Likert scales
semantic differential scale
strength of closed questions
produces quantitative data which can be summarized, presented and compared between participants or conditions
weakness of closed questions
they only produce quantitative data meaning that there is no detail or reasons behind answers given
strength of rating scales
provides more detail than simple yes/no question
weakness of rating scales
subjective as people may interpret ratings and terms differently
open questions
invite the respondent to answer in any way that they want producing qualitative data
strength of open questions
researcher can collect qualitative data such as feelings and experiences which gives much more insight than can be obtained by a closed question
weakness of open questions
information gained is qualitative so is difficult to analyze and make comparisons between participants
how to check for internal validity in a questionnaire
put repeat questions in the questionnaire which are worded slightly different. If respondent gives two very different answers their data is classified as unreliable
split half method
IR - here scores from two halves of the test are compared. Must only be used for things measured on a scale, psychometric, IQ, or personality
External reliability
results should be consistent if the study is repeated. Can’t say we have ER unless we have repeated the study
test re-test method
respondents complete the questionnaire once and then the same questionnaire again. If the first answers corelate to the second test answers the questionnaire is said to be externally reliable
evaluation apprehension
participant’s concern about being tested
questionnaires a good method because they are often confidential and don’t know they are being assessed so more likely to honest if theory answers can’t be traced back to them
social desirability
tendency for respondents to answer questions that present them in a better light
why do researchers add in ‘filler’ questions
to try and limit social desirability bias, they are not aware of what is being examined
why should researcher conduct a pilot study when designing a questionnaire
check understanding of questions and check clarity of questions. May also check for boredom
strength of questionnaires
quick to administer and analyze and target lare sample sizes
weakness of questionnaires
risk that respondents may respond to demand characteristics and tick the boxes that they think the researcher wants them to tick rather than the ones that express their true opinion
interviews
similar to questionnaires in that they ask the participants questions but unlike questionnaire the questions are either asked face to face or over the telephone
structured interview
questions are pre-determined. Interviewer reads out a list of questions which have been carefully planned. Researcher can’t deviate from these questions
strength of structured interview
can easily be repeated as the questions are the same each time - check for reliability
weakness of structured interview
validity may be affected as restricted questions force an answer which may not be a true measure of a particular attitiude
unstructured interviews
interviewer goes along with the flow of the conversation and can freely ask questions allowing more freedom of converation
strength of unstructured interviews
Interviewer can freely ask questions allowing for freedom of conversation of topics meaning more information can be gathered
weakness of unstructured interviews
as a variety of questions can be asked it can be difficult to replicate and the analysis of the data may be complex making comparisons between participants difficult
semi structured interviews
when some questions are predetermined requiring some specific information to be gathered. Researcher can ask for some clarification and follow up a set question with an unplanned question in an attempt to gain further insight
strength of semi structured interviews
Interviewer can add to the pre-determined questions allowing for freedom of conversation topics - gains better insight into true thoughts and feelings
weakness of semi structures interviews
as a variety of questions may be used it may be difficult to replicate
strength of self reports
only method that allows us to gain access to participant’s thoughts and feelings
weakness of self reports
risk of social desirability bias. Participants may want to present themselves in the most positive light possible therefore we can’t be sure we are measuring true thoughts and feelings, reducing validity of our results
