Self report techniques and designs Flashcards
What are self report techniques?
Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings. opinions.behaviours and/or experiences if related to a given topic
What type of questionnaires are there?
A questionnaire is a set of written questions used to assess a person’s thoughts and/or experiences.
The two types of questions within a questionnaire are open questions and closed questions.
What is a open question?
Does not have a fixed range of answers and respondents are free to answer in any way they wish. Open questions tend to produce qualitative data that is rich in-depth and detail but may be difficult to analyse.
What is a closed question?
Response is fixed to a limited number of answers. Tends to produce quantitative data which is easier to analyse but may lack depth and detail associated with open questions.
What is a structured interview?
Made up of a pre-determined set of questions that are asked in a fixed order.
What is a semi-structured interview?
There is a list of questioned that have been worked out in advance but interviewers are also free to ask follow-up questions when they feel it is appropriate
What is a non-structured interview?
It works much more like a conversation, there are no set questions. There is a general aim that a certain topic will be discussed and interaction tends to be free-flowing.
What are strengths of a questionnaire?
Cost effective
They can gather large amounts of data quickly because they can be distributed to large numbers of people.
The researcher doesn’t have to be present therefore reduced the effort involved.
What are the weaknesses of a questionnaire?
Responses given may not always be truthful. Respondents may be keen to present themselves in a positive light and this may influence their answers. This is a form of demand characteristic and social desirability bias.
What are the strengths of structured interviews?
Straightforward to replicate due to their standardised format
This format also reduces differences between interviewers
What are the weaknesses of structured interviews?
It is not possible for interviewers to deviate from the topic or elaborate on their points which can be a source of frustration fro some people
what are the strengths of an unstructured interview?
There is much more flexibility in an unstructured interview as opposed to a structured one.
The interview can use follow up questions and they arise, more likely giving an better insight into to the worldview of the interviewee
What are the weaknesses of an unstructured interview?
Analysis of data from an unstructured interview is not straightforward, the interviewer may have to sift through much irrelevant information and drawing firm conclusions may be difficult
There is a risk that interviewees may lie within their answer for social desirability.
