Self-reports

Question 1

Why do we use self-reports?

Answer 1

To capture feelings, thoughts and beliefs that are not observable.

Question 2

What are the strengths of a self-report?

Answer 2

• We can capture thoughts and feelings which we can’t observe.
• Standardised questionnaires and structured interviews allow easy replication. (High reliability)
• Practical questionnaires in particular allow large quantities of data to be collected quickly.

Question 3

What are the limitations of a self-report?

Answer 3

• Subjective, people may interpret the questions or answer choices differently (low reliability)
• Truthfulness is an issue. Interviewer bias and social desirability bias makes it hard to gauge truthfulness (low validity)

Question 4

What are the strengths of interviews?

Answer 4

• Unstructured or semi-structured interviews allow flexibility and ask further questions

Question 5

What are the weakness of interviews?

Answer 5

• Strong social desirability bias because it is face to face with researcher and the interviewee wants to appeal to the researcher
• Not time efficient: only one person can be interviewed by one interviewer at a time
• Investigator bias: may contain leading questions

Question 6

What are the strengths of questionnaires?

Answer 6

• Less social desirability bias than interviews

- Time efficient: can have thousands answered at the same time, lots of data collected

Question 7

What are the weaknesses of questionnaires?

Answer 7

• No flexibility, questionnaire is already created so no chance for further questions
• Investigator bias: may contain leading questions
• Doesn’t provide detailed data
• Subjective questions or answer choices: people interpret them differently

Question 8

What is an open question?

Answer 8

A question that allows respondents to give their own answers without limitations. Generates qualitative data.

Question 9

What are the strengths of open questions?

Answer 9

• Detailed, full information is gathered

- Responses aren’t limited so participants can give true answers (more valid)

Question 10

What are the limitations of open questions?

Answer 10

• Hard to compare and analyse data

- Can do a content analysis but if there are rare responses this won’t be very useful

Question 11

What is a closed question?

Answer 11

A question that allows respondents to select a response that is limited.

Question 12

What are the strengths of closed questions?

Answer 12

• Efficient way to collect specific data

- Responses can be compared and analysed easily

Question 13

What are the limitations of closed questions?

Answer 13

• Data lacks detail
• The limited response options may not be able to capture the range of responses participants want to give (low validity)

Question 14

What are closed questions - rating scales?

Answer 14

Limit responses turn them in a quantitative format giving quantitative data. 
EG:
0 - never
1 - Rarely
2 - Sometimes
3 - Often

Question 15

What are the strengths of closed questions rating scales?

Answer 15

It gives a wider range of responses yet is still easy to process and analyse.

Question 16

What are the limitations of closed questions rating scales?

Answer 16

The scale points may be open to subjective interpretation, this lowers reliability.

Question 17

What are closed questions - Likert rating scales?

Answer 17

Limit responses and turn opinions into a quantitative format giving quantitative data.
EG:
1 - Strongly agree
2- Agree
3 - Not sure
4 - Disagree
5 - Strongly disagree

Question 18

What are the strengths of Likert rating scales?

Answer 18

• A range of responses is available
• Trying each response to a number value makes it easy to analyse
• Not forced choice option of ‘not sure’ means data may be more valid

Question 19

What are the limitations of Likert rating scales?

Answer 19

• ‘Not sure’ is not informative, some participants may use this response a lot
• Descriptors are open to subjective interpretation