Self-report techniques

Question 1

Closed question

Answer 1

Range of possible answers is fixed / pre-determined so respondents select one.

Question 2

Closed question - advantage

Answer 2

Produces data which can be quantified.

Question 3

Closed question - disadvantage

Answer 3

Limited number of choices for response.

Question 4

Open question

Answer 4

Invites respondents to provide their own answers which are guided by the initial question.

Question 5

Open question - advantage

Answer 5

Data gathered is rich in content and considered qualitative.
This tells the researcher a lot about individual views and perceptions of topics.

Question 6

Open question - disadvantage

Answer 6

More complex to evaluate or summarise due to potential number of viewpoints.

Question 7

Questionnaire

Answer 7

A set of written questions.
Designed to collect information about a topic or topics.

Question 8

Interview

Answer 8

A meeting of people face to face or online.
Questions are asked directly of the participant by the interviewer.
Unlike questionnaires, interviews are not always pre-determined.

Question 9

Structured interview

Answer 9

A structured interview is a quantitative research method where the interviewer asks a set of prepared closed-ended questions in the form of an interview schedule, which he/she reads out exactly as worded.

Question 10

Structured interview - advantage

Answer 10

Easy to replicate as a fixed set of closed questions are used, which are easy to quantify.
This means it is easy to test for reliability.

Question 11

Structured interview - disadvantage

Answer 11

The answers from structured interviews lack detail as only closed questions are asked, which generates quantitative data.
This means a researcher won’t know why a person behaves a certain way.

Question 12

Semi-structured interview

Answer 12

Semi-structured interviews lie between structured and unstructured interviews. The interviewer prepares a set of same questions to be answered by all interviewees.
Additional questions might be asked during the interview to clarify or expand certain issues.

Question 13

Semi-structured interview - advantage

Answer 13

Allows respondents to answer more on their terms in an informal setting yet provide uniform information making them ideal for qualitative analysis.

Question 14

Semi-structured interview - disadvantage

Answer 14

The quality of findings is more dependent on the individual skills of the interviewer than in structured interviews.
Skill is required to probe effectively while avoiding biasing responses.

Question 15

Unstructured interview

Answer 15

Unstructured interviews do not use any set questions, instead, the interviewer asks open-ended questions based on a specific research topic, and will try to let the interview flow like a natural conversation.
The interviewer modifies his or her questions to suit the candidate’s specific experiences.

Question 16

Unstructured interview - advantage

Answer 16

They have increased validity.
It gives the interviewer the opportunity to probe for a deeper understanding, ask for clarification & allow the interviewee to steer the direction of the interview.

Question 17

Unstructured interview - disadvantage

Answer 17

Employing and training interviewers is expensive and not as cheap as collecting data via questionnaires.
For example:
Certain skills may be needed by the interviewer.

Question 18

Interviewer self-disclosure

Answer 18

Involves the interviewer revealing personal information or opinions during the research interview.

Question 19

Focus group interview

Answer 19

A qualitative approach where a group of respondents are interviewed together.
It’s used to gain an in‐depth understanding of social issues.

Question 20

Focus group interview - advantage

Answer 20

Group interviews generate qualitative narrative data through the use of open questions.
This allows the respondents to talk in some depth, choosing their own words.
This helps the researcher develop a real sense of a person’s understanding of a situation.
Qualitative data also includes observational data, such as body language and facial expressions.

Question 21

Focus group interview - disadvantage

Answer 21

The researcher must ensure that they keep all the interviewees” details confidential and respect their privacy.
This is difficult when using a group interview.
For example:
The researcher cannot guarantee that the other people in the group will keep information private.