Self Report Designs

Question 1

Name the 3 guiding principles of questionnaires ?

Answer 1

1. Clarity
2. Bias
3. Analysis

Question 2

Explain what is meant by “clarity” in questionnaires.

Answer 2

Clarity involves questions have significant meaning so responders don’t mis-read the questions ( there should be no ambiguity ). Double negatives reduce clarity and so do double barrelled questions.

Question 3

Explain what is meant by “bias” in questionnaires.

Answer 3

Bias involves responders answering questions to portray themselves as nicer people etc. ( social desirability )

Question 4

Explain what is meant by “analysis” in questionnaires.

Answer 4

Analysis involves being easy to analyse. So closed questions are normally better questions a they are easier to analyse. Open questions are harder to analyse so there would be less open questions on a questionnaire.

Question 5

Name some more techniques involved with questionnaires.

Answer 5

1. Filler questions - used to distract responder from actual aims.
2. Having questions in a sequence - Start with questions most easy to answer to relax responder
3. Pilot study - Doing a test run to find any mistakes

Question 6

Name the 3 main principles of an interview.

Answer 6

1. Recording the interview
2. Effects of interviewer
3. Questioning skills in unstructured interview

Question 7

Explain what is meant by “recording the interview”

Answer 7

Recording the interview involves the interviewer taking notes throughout the interview to analyse data.
This could interfere with what the interviewer hears.
It also puts pressure on the interviewee as the interviewer could stop writing at times, this could make the interviewee feel like they said the wrong thing.

Question 8

Explain what is meant by “effects of interview”

Answer 8

Effects of interview involves responder changing behaviour based of interviewers energy etc.
Interviewer must have good listening and talking skills to know when to talk.
Non - verbal communication is important ( things like not sitting with arms crossed )

Question 9

Explain what is meant by “questioning skills” in an interview.

Answer 9

Questioning skills involves being able to make up questions on the spot in an unstructured interview.
Interviewer shouldn’t ask questions twice as it would make responder feel like they gave the wrong answer.

Question 10

What is a self report technique ?

Answer 10

A method in which an individual is asked to state their feelings, opinions and
behaviours related to the topic. (takes place before an experiment)

Question 11

What are the two types of self report techniques ?

Answer 11

Questionnaires and interviews (unstructured, semi-structured and structured)

Question 12

Whats the difference between structured, semi - structured and unstructured interviews ?

Answer 12

Structured has a fixed set of questions that can’t be altered. Similar to questionnaire but face to face and real time.

Semi - structured is an interview that falls between structured and unstructured, questions are set before but the interviewer can develop questions during the interview.

Unstructured is more like a conversation, questions are developed as the interview goes on, there still is a general aim of the interview though. Interviewee would be encouraged to elaborate answers.

Question 13

Explain what a questionnaire is ?

Answer 13

Questionnaire is a pre - set list of written questions used to assess participants thoughts and feelings. It contains open and closed questions.

Question 14

What is the difference between open and closed questions and what type of data do they produce ?

Answer 14

Open questions are questions in which the answer must be elaborated and is based on the participants personality, normally they aren’t simple answers. EG: “What makes you happy ?”
- Open questions give qualitative data ( in depth )

Closed questions are questions which have shorter answers, normally the participant would tick a box like “yes” or “no”. EG “Do you like summer ?”
- Closed questions give quantitive data ( numerical / easy to analyse)

Question 15

Give me strengths and weaknesses of a structured interview.

Answer 15

Strengths:

• Easy to repeat as there’s pre-set questions.
• Due to repeatability they’re easier to analyse and compare data to other participants.

Weaknesses:

• Interview bias
• Low reliability as the interviewer could change their tone to each participant

Question 16

Give me strengths and weaknesses for an unstructured interview

Answer 16

Strengths:

• Can develop questions during interview
• Due to ability of developing questions more detailed information can be obtained

Weaknesses:

• Interviewer needs more skills ( ability to develop questions etc. )
• Due to this its more expensive

Question 17

What is interviewer bias ?

Answer 17

Interview bias is when the interviewers expectations affect the interviewees behaviour. EG If the interviewer smiled after hearing an answer the interviewee could think they’re doing good making them try to guess the aims of the interviewer.

Question 18

What is social desirability ?

Answer 18

Social desirability is the distortion in which people answer questions ( People would answer questions with dishonest answers so they portray themselves as someone “good” )