Self-Report Techniques (AO1 + AO3)

Question 1

What are the 2 types of Questionnaires?

Answer 1

Open Question questionnaire
&
Closed Question questionnaire

Question 2

What are Open Questions?

Answer 2

• allow ppts to answer however they wish generating qualitative data (no fixed responses)
• provides rich & detailed data + offers unique insight

Question 3

Example of an Open Question?

Answer 3

“What are your opinions on A Level Psychology and why?”
+
“How do you feel about sixth form?”

Question 4

Positive of Open Questions?

Answer 4

less chance of researcher bias bc ppts can answer the q’s in their own words, without having to choose from a set number of responses provided by researcher

Question 5

Negative of Open Questions?

Answer 5

• can be more time-consuming to analyse the data bc you can have longer, more complex responses

Question 6

What are Closed Questions?

Answer 6

restrict the ppts to a predetermined set of responses & generate quantitative data

Question 7

Examples of Closed Questions?

Answer 7

multiple choice questions/ yes & no questions/ scale of 1-10

Question 8

Positives of Closed Questions?

Answer 8

quantitative data is easier to analyse & use to make comparisons
- researchers can easily find patterns/trends

Question 9

Negative of Closed Questions?

Answer 9

• fixed answers = ppts can’t expand on ideas or develop responses
• response bias = ppts might get bored & just select same response each time

Question 10

What are the 3 types of Interviews?

Answer 10

Structured Interviews
Unstructured Interviews
Semi-Structured Interviews

Question 11

What is a Structured Interview?

Answer 11

• questions are decided on in advance & asked in the exact same order for each interview
• interviewer uses an interview schedule & will often record the answer to each q by making notes

Question 12

Positives of a Structured Interview?

Answer 12

• quantitative data is easier to analyse & use to make comparisons
• researchers can easily find patterns/trends

Question 13

Negative of a Structured Interview?

Answer 13

• investigator effects = interviewer may unconsciously cause bias by changing tone of voice, body language etc.

Question 14

What is an Unstructured Interview?

Answer 14

• conducted more like a conversation = interviewer & interviewee have more open discussion
• very little is decided in advance, just topic area
• answers usually a video or recorded on a disc as it’s impossible to write everything down & would spoil the atmosphere

Question 15

Positive of a Unstructured Interview?

Answer 15

increased validity reduced investigator effects
- bc interviewee can respond in whatever way they wish

Question 16

Negative of a Unstructured Interview?

Answer 16

generates large quantities of rich data which is time-consuming to properly analyse = harder to spot trends etc.

Question 17

Positives of a Semi-Structured Interview?

Answer 17

• increases validity as encourages honesty in ppts = reducing social desirability bias
• generates rich, qualitative data

Question 18

What is a Semi-Structured Interview?

Answer 18

• comprised mostly of prepared q’s that can be supplemented w additional q’s that the researcher finds appropriate
• interviewer can deviate from the original q’s = produces rich data

Question 19

Negatives of a Semi-Structured Interview?

Answer 19

• bc researcher has a bit more control can result in investigator bias
• time-consuming to analyse