Self-Report Techniques

Question 1

What are open questionnaires?

Answer 1

Allow participants to answer however they wish, thus generating qualitative data since there’s no fixed numbers of responses to select from

Question 2

What are closed questionnaires?

Answer 2

Restrict participants to predetermined set of responses & generate quantitive data
Different types of closed questions, e.g. checklist , Liberty

Question 3

What are structured interviews?

Answer 3

Have questions decided on in advance & they’re asked in exactly same order for each interviewee taking part

Question 4

What are unstructured interviews?

Answer 4

Conducted more like conversation, with interviewer facilitating discussion rather than asking set questions
This interview typically produces large amount of rich qualitative data

Question 5

What are semi-structured interviews?

Answer 5

Mostly prepared questions that can be supplemented with additional questions as see fit by interviewer at time
Interviewer can deviate from original questions & produces rich qualitative data

Question 6

Evaluate open question questionnaires

Answer 6

Strength - less chance of researcher bias - especially true if anonymous, less chance of being influenced by researchers’ expectations

Limitation - participants answer in socially desirable way - try to portray themselves in best possible light to researcher, thus, response may lack validity & not natural response

Question 7

Evaluate closed question questionnaires

Answer 7

Strength - quantitative data collected - easy to analyse results statistically or in graph, thus, direct comparisons made between groups, thus, trends & patterns easily established

Limitation - response bias - participant could just say ‘yes’ to all answers & not reads them carefully, thus, data generated lack internal validity

Question 8

What factors should be considered when designing questionnaires?

Answer 8

Keep terminology simple & clear
Keep it as short as possible
Avoid personal questions
No leading questions
Don’t use questions that make assumptions or sweeping statements
Pilot & modify questionnaire

Question 9

Evaluate structured interviews

Answer 9

Strength - quantitive data easier to analyse - direct comparisons can be made between groups & individuals, thus, researcher can look for patterns & trends in data

Limitation - investigator effects - interviewer may bias responses by changing in tone, body language, etc.

Question 10

Evaluate unstructured interviews

Answer 10

Strength - increases validity by reducing investigator effects - investigator doesn’t control direction of conversation to meet own perceived agenda. Participants can justify their answers in their own words with opinions rather than guessing aim of study through clues, thus reducing demand characteristics

Limitation - large amount of qualitative data - time consuming & costly, requires trained psychologist to administer them. Statistical analysis challenging as data collected qualitative, thus, difficult to identify patterns & trends without content analysis first

Question 11

Evaluate semi-structured interviews

Answer 11

Strength - increase validity - encourages participant to be honest, thus, reducing social desirability bias as participants able to justify answers in own words & opinions

Limitation - generate qualitative data - more difficult & time consuming to analyse (same as unstructured)