Self Report- Questionnaires

Question 1

What are Questionnaires?

Answer 1

Pps record their own answers, the questions are predetermined

Question 2

Open Questions

Answer 2

Invite pps to provide their own answer. This gets qualitative data

Question 3

Open question strengths

Answer 3

Provides rich detail on peoples feelings/ thoughts/ experiences etc. Likely to have higher validity

Question 4

Open question weaknesses

Answer 4

Harder to analyse, difficult to find patterns

Question 5

Closed questions

Answer 5

Gives a fixed choice between pre set possible answers. Limited to 3 options given and these provide quantitive data.

Question 6

Closed questions strengths

Answer 6

Easy to analyse, can put it into graphs

Question 7

Closed questions weaknesses

Answer 7

May lack detail as respondents can’t express their feelings so may be low in validity, oversimplifies human behaviour

Question 8

Rating/Likert Scales

Answer 8

Assessment of their view using a scale e.g. 1-5 or 1-10. These give quantitive data.

Question 9

Semantic Differential Scale

Answer 9

Asked where their attitude falls between two extremes (-2 to +2 where the middle is 0). This can produce categorical (numerical data).

Question 10

Rating scales Strengths

Answer 10

Gives quantitive data that can be compared, reasonably objective

Question 11

Rating scales weaknesses

Answer 11

Respondent may avoid the ends of the scales and go for the middle

Question 12

Questionnaires Strengths

Answer 12

Easily repeated, can collect large amounts of data and pps might feel more willing to engage and answer honestly

Question 13

Questionnaires Weaknesses

Answer 13

Sample may be biased

Question 14

Structured Interviews

Answer 14

Predetermined questions and the interview follows the set questions exactly as they are written. No scope to probe responses or ask new questions

Question 15

Structured Interview Strengths

Answer 15

Easily repeated, easier to analyse as the answers are more predictable

Question 16

Structured Interview weaknesses

Answer 16

Experimenter bias

Question 17

Semi-Structured Interviews

Answer 17

Contain a pre-set list of questions to help the interviewer stay on topic. However, the researcher can skip, change or add questions to follow a response given.

Question 18

Unstructured Interviews

Answer 18

They may have a starting question to help the interview begin but there are no pre set questions. They discuss the topic freely and without prompts.

Question 19

Unstructured + Semi Structured strengths

Answer 19

More detailed information can be obtained as you can ask follow up questions. Can access information that may not have been revealed with predetermined questions

Question 20

Unstructured + Semi Structured Weaknesses

Answer 20

Experimenter bias is more likely, requires highly trained interviews

Question 21

Ethics

Answer 21

Allow researchers to investigate personal and sensitive subjects. You have to be careful not to ask questions that may cause distress.

Informed consent is usually given and the right to withdraw can be easy to monitor.