Self-Report Practical- Social 4

Question 1

Define Open Questions

Answer 1

Allow respondents to express themselves freely in their own words and without constraints

Question 2

Define closed questions

Answer 2

Gives participants a set range of answers to chose from

Question 3

Give a strength of open questions

Answer 3

Gives a more complex account of how people think or feel and as to why they feel that way.

Question 4

Give a weakness of open questions

Answer 4

Descriptive responses can be difficult to analyse meaning trends and comparisons are limited.

Question 5

Give a strength of closed questions

Answer 5

Easy to analyse so objective statistical comparisons can be made.

Question 6

Give a weakness of closed questions

Answer 6

Low in validity as it can oversimplify human behaviour by reducing complex attitudes and feelings to a set of numbers.

Question 7

Define Likert scales

Answer 7

Shows how much people agree or disagree with a statement

Question 8

Define structured interviews

Answer 8

Have predetermined questions in a set order. Typically standardised (so there is the same question asked in the same way)

Question 9

Define semi-structured interviews

Answer 9

Tend to have set questions but will also allow the interviewer more chance to explore the answers further

Question 10

Define unstructured interviews

Answer 10

Tend to be informal in atmosphere and non-directive. Researchers may have a set topic to talk about but the exact phrasing of the question is left to the interviewer.

Question 11

What type of interviews are likely to be the most reliable and why?

Answer 11

Structured interviews as they have standardised questions which are easy to replicate making them high in reliability.

Question 12

What type of interviews are likely to be the least reliable and why?

Answer 12

Unstructured interviews as they are not standardised so each participant has a different experience making them hard to replicate and therefore low in reliability.

Question 13

Explain why unstructured interviews are often said to be high in validity

Answer 13

They tend to produce qualitative data which is highly rich and detailed, participants may also feel more responsive in the informal set up. Therefore validity is high as research is likely to reflect the true complexities of human behaviour.

Question 14

Give one argument which suggests unstructured interviews may be low in validity

Answer 14

In unstructured interviews there is no set structure they may be more prone to interview bias because the interview is more able to guide and shape the discussion. This would mean they would not get an accurate understanding of the respondents views.

Question 15

Give a weakness of qualitative data

Answer 15

Analysis of data can be open to

interpretation and so more subjective - this can decrease validity

Question 16

Give a weakness of quantitive data

Answer 16

Reduces and oversimplifies complex
behaviour to a set of numbers - such
reductionism in measuring behaviour can reduce validity as it does not provide and accurate reflection of the behaviour.

Question 17

What are the different researcher effects that can affect self-report?

Answer 17

1. The researcher might unwittingly communicate his expectations to the participants. This is a problem in interviews as they take place face-to-face.
2. The sex, age, manner and personality of the interviewer can all affect how much the participant is prepared to disclose to the interviewer.
3. Researcher effects can affect the interpretation of data. This is a problem in both interviews and questionnaires. Open questions are more prone to researcher effects than closed questions are. This is because open questions tend to be interpreted more subjectively than closed questions.
   Researcher effects will reduce the VALIDITY of the research.

Question 18

What is the aim of sampling?

Answer 18

The aim of any sampling technique is to select a representative sample of people from the target population, so that we can generalise from them to the target population.

Question 19

Define random sampling

Answer 19

When every member of the population has equal chance of being selected

Question 20

Define stratified sampling

Answer 20

Dividing the target population into important sub-categories

Question 21

Define volunteer sampling

Answer 21

When people consciously decide to be part of the research

Question 22

Define opportunity sampling

Answer 22

Researchers selects participants available at the time of the study

Question 23

Give one strength of random sampling

Answer 23

Provides the best chance for a unbiased and representative sample as everyone has equal chance of being selected

Question 24

Give one strength of stratified sampling

Answer 24

Makes sure certain groups are represented in the sample so that creditable conclusions can be drawn.

Question 25

Give one strength of volunteer sampling

Answer 25

Very ethical as participants have decided for themselves to take part.

Question 26

Give one strength of opportunity sampling

Answer 26

Quick, convenient and efficient

Question 27

Give one weakness random sampling

Answer 27

Could end up with a biased an unrepresentative sample just by chance

Question 28

Give one weakness stratified sampling

Answer 28

Researchers may have pre-conceived ideas about the groups leading to bias

Question 29

Give one weakness volunteer sampling

Answer 29

It’s biased as not everyone in the target population will see/ know about the study

Question 30

Give one weakness opportunity sampling

Answer 30

Biased and unrepresentative as you are only selecting from a small sector of the target population you have access to at that time.

Question 31

What data measurement is data from Likert scales and why?

Answer 31

Data from Likert scales will be at the ordinal level. This is because the scores can be ranked.

Question 32

What type of data do frequency tables show?

Answer 32

Frequency tables display nominal data as the data falls into separate categories.

Question 33

What are the 4 principles in the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct (2009)

Answer 33

• Respect
• Competence
• Responsibility
• Integrity

Question 34

How can risks be managed?

Answer 34

Risk can be managed through:

1. Transference of risk: i.e. insuring against it happening
2. Mitigation: ile. reducing the risk as far as possible
3. Acceptance: e.g. budgeting for the risk

Question 35

What is you practical study for social psychology?

Answer 35

A questionnaire to investigate whether people with an internal or external locus of control are more likely to be obedient.

Question 36

What is the aim of your practical investigation in social psychology?

Answer 36

The aim of this study was to use self-report in the form of a questionnaire to investigate whether people with an internal or external locus of control were more obedient.

Question 37

What was the IV in your practical investigation for social psychology?

Answer 37

Locus of control

Question 38

What was your DV in your practical investigation for social psychology?

Answer 38

Levels of reported obedience

Question 39

What is the alternate hypothesis for your practical investigation for social psychology?

Answer 39

There will be a significant difference in obedience (measured by scores on a self- report questionnaire) between participants with an internal and external locus of control (self-report).

Question 40

What is the null hypothesis for your practical investigation for social psychology?

Answer 40

There will be no significant difference in obedience (measured by scores on a self-report questionnaire) between participants with an internal and external locus of control (self-report).

Question 41

Identity the sampling technique used in your study for social psychology.

Answer 41

Opportunity Sample

Question 42

Provide two examples of open questions in your practical investigation for social psychology

Answer 42

1. Give an example of a time when you have obeyed orders even if you didn’t agree with them.
2. Give an example of a time you have disobeyed orders and explain why you disobeyed.

Question 43

Provide two examples of closed questions in your practical investigation for social psychology

Answer 43

•If a teacher tells you to top chewing gum at college/school would you obey?
Yes/ no

•I feel I have little influence over things that happened to me
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Strongly disagree-> Strongly Agree

Question 44

Explain one strength of your questions in your practical investigation for social psychology

Answer 44

P: Open questions allow qualitative data to be collected which collects highly rich and detailed data.
E: This means we came see the reasons for differences in obedience between men and women.

Question 45

Explain one weakness of your questions in your practical investigation for social psychology

Answer 45

P: All the questions have to do with obedience so the aim of the research may be clear to respondents.
E: This is a weakness because respondents may change their answers reducing validity of the findings.

Question 46

When was the data collected for your practical investigation for social psychology?

Answer 46

The data was collected between the 21st and 24th of January between the hours of 9am and 4pm

Question 47

Where was the data collected in your practical investigation for social psychology?

Answer 47

Online and at Reigate College

Question 48

What was the type of data collected for your practical investigation for social psychology?

Answer 48

Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected.

Question 49

Give two controls for extraneous variable in your practical investigation for social psychology

Answer 49

• All participants were given the same questionnaire.

* All participants were given the same instructions.

Question 50

Give one strength of how the data was collected in your practical investigation for social psychology

Answer 50

P: All questionnaires we’re collected anonymously meaning demand characteristics were reduced
E: This means that people are less likely to give socially desirable answers about their perceptions of their obedience this increasing validity

Question 51

Give one weakness of how the data was collected in your practical investigation for social psychology

Answer 51

P: The responses were collected in writing so respondents who find it difficult to express themselves on paper may not answer fully.
E: This would mean that we get a limited picture of their obedience levels, thus reducing the validity of the findings.

Question 52

Explain why some ethical issues were not addressed in your practical investigation for social psychology

Answer 52

• General Respect- low risk because college students were used in this sample and the students treat each other with respect = no specific action needed
• Deception- all participants knew the aims of the study
• Confidentiality not addressed because all questionnaires were anonymous

Question 53

State which ethical issues were identified at risk in your practical investigation for social psychology and how they were addressed

Answer 53

• Protection of participants addressed by carefully selecting questions to avoid provoking anxiety, distress and embarrassment in the participants.
• Debriefing addressed by informing the participants of the outcome of the research and monitoring them for any unforeseen harm.

Question 54

Give one example of an open question used in your study for social psychology

Answer 54

Give an example of a time you have disobeyed and explain why you disobeyed

Question 55

Give one example of an closed question used in your study for social psychology

Answer 55

If a teacher tells you to stop chewing gum at school/college would you obey? Yes/No

Question 56

Give one example of an closed question (rating scale) used in your study for social psychology

Answer 56

Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statements
I feel have a little influence over things that happened to me
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Strongly disagree. Strongly agree

Question 57

Name one measure of descriptive statistics which you used to analyse your data. Explain why used the measure for your social psychology questionnaire

Answer 57

Standard deviation to compare and find out how much the results deviated from the mean between external and internal locus of control participants.

Question 58

Explain one weakness of your questions in you social psychology questionnaire

Answer 58

All the questions have to do with obedience so the aim of the research may be clear to respondents. This is a weakness because it may reduce the validity of findings.

Question 59

Give one strength of how the data was collected for your social psychology practical

Answer 59

All questions were collected anonymously meaning demand characteristics were reduced. This means that people are less likely to give socially desirable answers about their perceptions of their obedience thus increasing validity.

Question 60

Evaluate the reliability of your study for social psychology

Answer 60

The same questionnaire was given to all participants in the study. This is seen when all the questions were standardised so the same questions were used in the same order for all respondents. This means the study is high in reliability as the standardised questions makes the study more easily replicable.
However reliability is lowered as some participants were given an online version of the questionnaire and others were given a real life paper copy. This lowers reliability as the study was not replicated in the exactly the same way for all participants.

Question 61

Evaluate the validity of your study

Answer 61

One strength of the study was that it collected both qualitative and quantitive data on perceptions of obedience. This is shown when open questions were used to gain qualitative data about obedience allowing for full and in-depth understanding of obedience. Quantitative data was also used to determine the respondents locus of control. Because both types of data were gathered the validity of the questionnaires increased.
However a weakness of the validity of the study is that the demand characteristics may have been present. This is because all the questions were to do with obedience and so the aim of the study may have been clear to respondents. This is a weakness because it limits the validity of the findings.