SELF REPORT Flashcards
Define self report measures
- A data collection method
- In which ppts provide information about their thoughts, feelings, behaviours.
Types of self report measures
- Interviews
- Questionnaries
- Diary entries
- Therapy sessions (transcripts)
Define questionnaires
- A self report measure that uses written questions through a paper pencil or online technqiue.
- Data comes directly from the ppt
Strengths of a questionnare
- Reliable: Often use standardised questions, which are easy to replicate.
- Generalisable: Many can be adminsitered to a large sample of people at once, so the results are typically generalisable.
- Data can be analysed and compared using statistical technqiues.
Weaknesses of questionnaires
- Low validity: The options provided may not be reflective of the ppts feelings/ attitudes. Leading questions or misunderstanding of the questions can lead to distortions.
- Socially desirability bias. May arise (ppts may provide inauthentic, inaccurate responses)
- Generalisability/ low responses: Data collected relies on responses to be returned. Reponses rates may be poor, or only a certain** type of person** may return them, lowering generalisability.
2 types of question formats used in self reports
- open questions
- closed questions
Open questions
- Pptts can give attitudes, opinions, recall experiences in their own words.
- No pre made response categories/ free to elaborate and provide detail
- Produces qualitative and subjective data
“Describe/ explain how/ why”
Closed questions
- Pptts respond via pre-made response categories such as “yes or no” limiting pppt responses.
- They ususally produce quantitative or objective data.
There are several types of closed questions researchers use to collect data/ quantify a respondents attitudes. What are they?
- Likert scale
- Rank orders
- Checklists
- Semantic differential scales
Likert scales
- A type of rating scale.
- That usually assigns numerical values to each response option.
- 1= Strongly disagree 10= Strongly agree
Rank orders
- Ordering a set based on a common measure or attribute.
“Rank each item in order of importance: with number 1 as the ‘most important’ item and number10 as the ‘least important’ item.
Semantic differential scales
- 2 extremes are given
- and responses usually fall between these values.
Democratic party : Good + + + bad
Checklists
- Ticking items applicable to you
What are filler questions?
- Questions that are irrelvant to a studies aims put amongst the relevant questions.
- To disguise teh aim of a study and reduce demand charactersistics/ social desirability bias
Social desirability bias
- When ppts provide socially acceptable awnsers,
- Unreflective of their true attiudes or feelings
- in order to present themselves favourablly.
Psychometric tests
- A standardised scientfic method used to measure/quantify cognitive capabilities, psychological characteristics and behavioural style.
- They give ppts a sigle numerical score based on that characteristic.
What do psychometric tests measure?
- Cognitive capabilies
- Psychological characteristics
- Behavioural style
Types of questionnares
- Psychometric tests
- Surveys
Surveys
- Large scale questionnaires (similar aims to questionnares)
Lots of methdological problems (sample biases, problem questions, response bias
Response bias
- The tendency to provide inaccuarate/ false responses to questions
There are several types of problem questions that can distort responses:
- Double barreled questions
- Leading questions
Double barraled questions
- Questions that ask about 2 questions but only allow 1 response
leading questions
Questions that guide respondents to the desired awnser
Strengths and weaknesses of open questions
Strengths= Highly valid as it encourages more depth, detail, flexibility and nuance.
Weakness= Validity may be comprimised by subjective interpretations or misinterpretations of responses.
Strengths and weaknesses of closed questions
Strengths= Reliable as responses are structured and standardised. Aids with data collection.
Weaknessses= Limited validity/ scope= Ppts restricted to predefined categories that may not reflect their perspective/ overlook nuance.
