Self Report Techniques Flashcards
Interviews
Interview is a formal conversation between the interviewer and the respondent where they both participate in a question answer session.
Interviews advantages
- Rich in detailed qualitative data.
- Can be used as part of a pilot study to gather information before research.
- Gather individual’s point of view.
Interviews disadvantages
- Social desirability.
- Difficult to analyse.
- Not practical for large samples.
- Interviewer effects.
Structured interviews
Pre determined set of questions in a fixed order that can’t be deviated from.
Structured interviews advantages
- Easy to replicate.
- Standardised.
- Focus on the topic.
Structured interviews disadvantages
- Not flexible.
- Possible loss of understanding as can’t ask follow ups.
Unstructured interviews
No set questions. A general aim that you have a conversation about.
Unstructured interviews advantages
- Flexibility.
- Deeper understanding (more validity).
Unstructured interviews disadvantages
- Loss of focus.
- Hard to replicate as not standardised.
Semi structured interviews
Pre fixed set questions, but can ask follow up questions when they feel it is appropriate.
Semi structured interviews advantages
- Increased focus.
- Some standardisation.
- Ability to ask follow ups.
Semi structured interviews disadvantages
- Can be difficult to replicate.
Questionnaires
Questionnaires involve a form consisting of a series of written or printed multiple choice questions or open questions, to be answered by participants.
Questionnaires advanatges
- Allow researchers to study large samples of people easily, cost effective generalisability.
- Can be done without researcher present.
- Can gather quantitative and qualitative data.
- Easy to replicate.
- Can be easily standardised.
Questionnaires disadvantages
- Low response rate.
- People may not respond truthfully.
- Acquiescence bias- tendency to say yes/agree.
- Investigator bias if completed with a researcher present.
- Chance of misinterpreting questions.
Open questions
These do not have a fixed range of answers and respondents are free to answer in any they want. Tend to produce qualitative data. Examples are who, what, when ,why questions.
Open questions advantages
- Qualitative data description.
- Infinite range of answers
Open questions disadvantages
- Takes longer as need more elaboration.
- Hard to analyse.
Closed questions
Offer a fixed number of responses. Provides quantitative data by looking at the number of answers people gives. Examples are rating scales and fixed responses.
Closed questions advanatges
- Quantitative data so easy to analyse.
- Shorter time frame.
Closed questions disadvantages
- Lacks descriptive detail.
- Limited answers.
- Response bias for scales- choose middle answer.
