Self Report: Types of Questions

Question 1

What is an open question?

Answer 1

A participant is given a set question to respond to, but there is a blank left underneath the question so participants can answer in whatever style they choose

Question 2

What is a closed question?

Answer 2

When respondents have to choose one item from the limited range available

Question 3

What is a strength of an open question?

Answer 3

-Provides more rich detailed data
-Doesn’t force participants to give a particular response

Question 4

What is a strength of a closed question?

Answer 4

-Easier and quicker for the participant to respond
-The data collected is easy to compare and analyse

Question 5

What is a weakness of an open question?

Answer 5

-Time consuming to complete by the participant and for the researcher to analyse the responses collected
-Responses may not be relevant to what the researcher desired

Question 6

What is a weakness of a closed question?

Answer 6

-Can force participants to select an option which isn’t true for them
-Lacks reasons on why they selected the option they did

Question 7

What is a rating scale?

Answer 7

-A question with a scale that follows. e.g. numbers 1 - 10 where 1= really dislike and 10= really like
-To investigate people’s attitudes towards something, as well as emotions and feelings

Question 8

What is an advantage of a rating scale?

Answer 8

-Quantitative data so can be summarised and compared
-Gives a clear idea of how strong the participant feels
-Easily repeated

Question 9

What is a disadvantage of a rating scale?

Answer 9

-Forced choice (often no middle number) can frustrate respondents
-No reasons given
-Middle number tendency (if middle number given)

Question 10

What is a Likert scale?

Answer 10

A statement (not question) where participants indicate whether they strongly agree, agree, are undecided, disagree, or strongly disagree

Question 11

What is an advantage of a Likert scale?

Answer 11

-Easy to understand
-More specific with the statement
-Controls for the standard response set (tendency to give same answer in response to all statements) by having half negative half positive

Question 12

What is a disadvantage of a Likert scale?

Answer 12

-Validity can be reduced because of the number of intervals
e.g. odd number= respondent can choose undecided each time, even number= forced to choose one they may not align their opinion with fully

Question 13

What is a semantic differential?

Answer 13

An attitude object is given followed by a series of paired words. There are a number of spaces between each pair of words in which the respondent indicates where they would place their feelings in relation to the attitude object