self reports Flashcards
random sampling
This is when every member of a target population has an equal chance of being selected. For example, putting the names of every member of the target population in a hat and pulling out a sample without looking.
Strength: Best technique for providing an unbiased representative sample of a target population.
Weakness: It may not be representative of the population and there will be high attrition rate
opportunity sampling
This involves selecting participants that are around and available at the time and fit in the criteria you’re looking for. For example, university psychologist may sample from their students.
Strength: Easy in terms of time and money, quick and is often the most economical method of sampling. It’s also the most common type of sampling.
Weakness: It can produce a biased sample as it’s easy for the researcher to choose people from their own social and cultural group. So it would not be a representative of the target population, as they may have different qualities to people in general.
self selected
This consists of participants becoming part of a study because they volunteer when asked or in response to an advert.
Strength: It’s quick and relatively convenient and it reaches a wide variety of participants. Also there are no ethical issues because they volunteer themselves and there is bias by the researcher and low attrition.
Weakness: Participants who volunteer might not be representative of the target population. For example, they might be more obedient, or more motivated to take part.
whats structured interview
types of interviews.
• Structured Interview: Where all the questions to be asked are decided beforehand. They may have limited range of answers (e.g. yes/no)
whats unstructured interview
They resemble conversations and the researcher will have a topic they wish to discuss but might develop questions as they go along and keep the interview along the right track
Open questions invite respondents to provide their own answer and tend to produce qualitative data.
- They can produce unexpected information
- Allow respondents to express what they actually think -More difficult to analyse qualitative data produced and thus more difficult to draw conclusions
Closed questions provide limited choices but are far easier to analyse. An example of a closed question could be rating scales.
-May not permit people to express their precise feelings.
s n w of questionnaires
+Can be easily repeated so that data can be collected cheaply and quickly
-Respondents may feel more willing to reveal personal information that in an interview. -Answers may not be truthful due to leading question and social desirability bias.
-The sample may be biased because only extroverts fill it in
s + w of structures interviews
+Can be easily repeated
+Easier to analyse than unstructured interviews because answers are more predictable.
- The interviewer’s expectations may influence the answers the interviewee gives. (interviewer bias)
- Reliability may be affected by the interviewer’s behaviour as different interviewer’s may gain different results
s + w of semistructured interviews
+Generally more detailed information can be obtained
- Can access information that would be restricted by closed questions
- More affected by interviewer bias than structured interviews as the interviewer leads the interview
- Requires professionals
s and w of rating scale
-Enables respondents to represent thoughts and feelings quantitatively -Respondents may avoid using the ends of the scales, not showing true feelings
improving reliability of self reports
A way to improve reliability is to clarify ambiguous questions. In the case of interviews, interviewers could be given training.
improving validity
A way to improve validity is to avoid leading questions, add open questions to expand responses and give confidentiality to allow participants to give more truthful answers
