Self Report

Question 1

Questionnaire

Answer 1

• A type of self report

- Participants tell you how they are feeling/thinking

Question 2

Closed Question

Answer 2

• Give the respondent a limited fixed number of responses

- E.g. a tick box

Question 3

Closed Question Evaluation

Answer 3

+ Provides quantitative data which is easy to summarise, present and compare between participants

• Limited information is gathered with no explanation/reasoning which lacks validity

Question 4

Open Question

Answer 4

• Allow respondents to give detailed answers with explanations

Question 5

Open Question Evaluation

Answer 5

+ Detailed qualitative data provides reasoning and is realistic (valid)

• Difficult to analyse and compare as it would need to be quantified

Question 6

Likert-Scale

Answer 6

• Respondents are represented with a statement/question

- And a range of answers from which they select the extent to which they agree/disagree

Question 7

Likert-Scale Evaluation

Answer 7

+ Provides information on the strength of the participants opinion
+ Numerical values: Provide quantitative data

• Response bias: fall into pattern of choosing the same option and this can be solved by phrasing some questions positively and some negatively

Question 8

Semantic Differentials

Answer 8

• Participants place themselves on a rating scale between two extremes

Question 9

Semantic Differentials Evaluation

Answer 9

+ Provides information on the strength of the participants opinion

• Response bias: fall into pattern of choosing the same option and this can be solved by phrasing some questions positively and some negatively

Question 10

Interviews

Answer 10

• Can be done face-to-face, over the phone or online

Question 11

Structured Interview

Answer 11

• The same set of questions is asked to each participant in the same order and the researcher will show no expression

Question 12

Structured Interview Evaluation

Answer 12

+ Easier to gather quantitative data that can be analysed to find trends in participants’ responses

• Limited data is gathered as the respondents won’t feel free to add to or explain their answers

Question 13

Semi-Structured Interview

Answer 13

• There is a list of questions that must be asked in the same order
• But the researcher can ask for elaboration/clarification

Question 14

Semi-Structured Interview Evaluation

Answer 14

• Collects quantitative data in addition to qualitative data which provides detail and can still be easily presented and analysed

Question 15

Leading Questions

Answer 15

• Force participants to give particular responses and this lowers validity
• This can be avoided by using neutral questions

Question 16

Self-Report Strengths

Answer 16

+ Direct views/opinions from participants rather than researchers inferring from observation

+ Samples can be studied easily and quickly

+ Many variables can be examined by using each question to ask something different

+ Ecologically valid as participants reveal behavior/feelings experienced in real life

Question 17

Self-Report Weaknesses

Answer 17

• Social desirability bias
• Low response rates from unreturned questionnaires
• Leading questions