Self report methods Flashcards
Define the term self report method?
Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings opinions and /or experiences related to a given topic.
Define qualitative data
data that is rich in detail and depth
eval of qualitative data
- Full of depth and meanings
- Can be hard to analyse results
define quantitative data
numerical data
eval quantitative data
- Easily comparable as is numerical → graphs and averages made
- Lacks detail and depth
Define open ended questions
does not have a fixed answer so respondents are free to answer
eval open ended questions
+ gives freedom to elaborate answers providing depth - more truthful
- Difficult to compare / analyse
- Longer time needed to complete → may lead to lower response rate
Define closed questions
Offers fixed response such as ‘yes’ or no but using a number scale = quantitative data
Eval closed questions
+ Easily comparable as can be numerical → graphs and averages made
- Prevents freedom to elaborate providing in depth answers - less valid
Questionnaires def
a pre -set list of questions by which participants respond.
EVAL questionnaires strengths
+ cost effective
+ Gather large amounts of data as distributed * easily Representative
* Easy to analyse with statistical analysis - with closed questions especially
* Researcher not present so less bias in responses
Questionnaires eval limitaions
- Answers may not be truthful - ppt show social desirability bias
- Response bias > ppt tend to all answer in a similar way
- Acquiescence bias - tendency to agree regardless Qs content
- Leading questions → flaws data
- If Qs misunderstood unable to clarify with researcher
Define structured interview
are made up of pre-determined set questions that are asked in a fixed order.
Evaluation structured interview
+ Straightforward - easy to replicate as standardised format
– Not able to elaborate or deviate → prevents depth and rich data may limit info
define unstructured interview
No set questions so aim is to encourage interviewee to expand and elaborate answers prompted by interviewer
unstructured interview strengths
- Much more flexibility → more likely to gain a worldview as able to ask follow up questions
- Able to develop rapport → more likely to increase validity / be truthful
Unstructured interviews limitations
- Analysis of data is difficult as have to sift through answers to draw conclusions
- Risk of lie - social desirability bias
- Need a highly trained interviewer
Define semi-structured interview
A list of questions worked out in advance but the interviewers are also free to ask more follow up questions.
What are the three things closed questions are divided into?
- likert scales
- rating scales
- fixed choice option
define likert scale quesitonnaire
One in which the respondent indicates their agreement using a five point scale
Raging from strongly agree - strongly disagree
define rating scale quesitonnaire
Gets respondents to identify a value (1-5) that represents their feeling about a particular topic.
define fixed choice option quesitonnaire
Includes a list of possible options and respondents indicate what apply to them.
What is a pilot questionnaire
in order to identity the confusing questions or hat giveaway the aim
Things researchers need to be weary of in questionnaires
- Overuse of Jargon (technical terms only specialists would understand) - causes misunderstanding
Qs should be easily understood - validity - Authors attitude toward topic is clear in Q phrasing → researcher bias influence answers
- Leading Qs - guiding people towards an answer
- Doubles barreled questions - some may agree with hald but not the other
- Double negative questions - hard to answer
Things researchers need to be weary of in interviews
- Most involve an interview schedule -> list of questions that are needed to be covered
- Should be standardised for each ppt - reduce researcher bias
- 1-1 interviews in a quiet room to increase likelihood of honesty
- Establishing rapport is important
strengths of primary research
- Data gathered is more likely to be focused on the purpose of the research
- Less peripheral/redundant information
- Control issues – first hand data can be controlled whereas secondary data may have been gathered under differing conditions
