Self-Reports

Name 2 self-report techniques

• Questionnaires

• Interviews

Name 2 types of questions

• Open questions

• Closed questions

Name 3 types of interviews

• structured

• Semi-structured

• Unstructured

Explain 2 advantages of using self-reports

• Less time-consuming than other methods

• Data of a large number of participants can be gathered quickly

Explain why self-reports may have low validity

• Self-reports aren’t actual behaviour - people could easily lie

• Participants may not know / remember the truth

• Participants could lie to display social desirability effects

What is an interview schedule and why should it be standardised

• it’s a list of questions that an interviewer intends to cover

• Standardisation reduces the effect of interviewer bias

What is a structured interview

• made up of a pre-determined set of questions (fixed order)

• Similar to questionnaire but conducted face-to-face

What is an unstructured interview

• no set questions - just a general aim that a certain topic will be discussed

• Interviewee is encouraged to expand and elaborate their answers

Explain the key advantage of structured over unstructured interviews

• standardised questions allow participants answers to be easily compared and analysed statistically

Explain the key advantage of unstructured over structured interviews

• questions can be personalised / adapted

• Capturing unique aspects of their experiences