Self Reports

Question 1

Questionnaires

Answer 1

Set of written q’s
Can ask ppl directly
Objective and scientific way of conducting research
Always predetermined i.e structured

Question 2

Advantages of questionnaires

Answer 2

Once made, can be distributed to a lot of people - quickly and cheaply
People are more willing to reveal personal info compared to an interview as it is confidential/anonymous

Question 3

Disadvantages of questionnaires

Answer 3

Only filled in by people who can read and write (lacks population validity)
Takes a long time to create and get up and running

Question 4

Interviews (structured)

Answer 4

Structured:
Predetermined q’s (face-to-face) - no deviation from original q’s
Conducted in real time

Question 5

Advantages of structured interviews

Answer 5

Can be repeated bc q’s are standardised
Answers from diff people so can be compared
Easier to analyse than an unstructured interview because answers are more predictable

Question 6

Disadvantages of structured interviews

Answer 6

Low reliability
Interviewers expectations may influence answers given
Interview bias needs to be avoided

Question 7

Interviews (semi-structured)

Answer 7

Semi structured:
Less structure
New q’s developed during the course of the interview - interviewer may begin with general aims and few predetermined q’s BUT subsequent q’s develop on the basis of the answers that are given

Question 8

Advantages of semi structured interviews

Answer 8

More detailed info can be obtained, interviewer tailors q’s to obtain specific thoughts and feelings

Question 9

Disadvantages of semi structured interviews

Answer 9

More expensive to produce as a specialist interviewer is needed

Question 10

Types of questions (open)

Answer 10

Open:
Infinite range of possible q’s e.g ‘what do you like about your job?’ - may get 50 diff answers from 50 diff people
Produces qualitative data (non-numerical; attitudes, feelings etc) - this makes it more difficult to summarise or detect clear patterns bc likely to be a wide range of responses
Allows conclusions to be drawn about behav being studied

Question 11

Types of questions (closed)

Answer 11

Closed:
Range of possible answers is fixed (limited range) e.g listing 5 possible answers for respondents to choose from OR asking q with yes/no/maybe answer
Easier to analyse (using graphs and measures like the mean) BUT respondents may be forced to select answers that don’t represent their real thoughts or behaviour
Produces quantitative data (numerical)