AS level Psychology 1.2 Self reports

self-report

A: A method of data collection in which participants provide information about themselves, typically through questionnaires or interviews.

questionnaire

A: A written self-report technique where participants respond to a series of questions, which can be open or closed.

interview

A spoken self-report technique involving a researcher asking questions to participants, either face-to-face or remotely.

open question

A: A question that allows participants to respond in their own words, producing qualitative data.

closed question

A: A question that provides limited, predefined response options, producing quantitative data.

Likert scale

A: A scale used in questionnaires to measure the degree of agreement or disagreement with a statement, typically ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree.

rating scale

A: A type of closed question where participants rate something on a numerical scale (e.g. 1–10).

structured interview

A: An interview where all participants are asked the same pre-determined questions in the same order.

semi-structured interview

A: An interview that uses a mix of pre-set questions and follow-up questions based on the participant’s responses.

unstructured interview

A: An interview with no fixed questions; it is conversational and flexible, guided by the participant’s responses.

pilot study

A: A small-scale trial run of a questionnaire or interview to check clarity, reliability, and functionality before the main study.

standardised instructions

A: Ensuring all participants receive the same instructions in order to reduce variation in responses.

internal validity in self-report

A: The extent to which a self-report method accurately measures what it intends to measure (e.g. honesty, attitudes).

reliability in self-report

A: The consistency of the self-report method, especially over time or between different raters.

subjectivity

A: When data is influenced by personal feelings or opinions, a risk in open questions and unstructured interviews.

objectivity

A: When data is measured without bias or interpretation, often associated with closed questions and structured interviews.

demand characteristics

A: When participants guess the aim of the study and alter their responses, which may bias the results.

social desirability bias

A: When participants answer in a way that they think is socially acceptable or favourable, rather than truthful.

What is response bias

A: A general tendency to respond in a particular way regardless of the actual content, such as always choosing "agree."

acquiescence bias

A: A type of response bias where participants tend to agree with all questions or statements.

leading question

A: A question that suggests or prompts a particular answer, potentially affecting the validity of results.

filler question

A: A question included to distract from the main aim of the questionnaire or to reduce demand characteristics.

ethical issues in self-report

A: Includes confidentiality, informed consent, and psychological harm—especially in sensitive or personal topics.

confidentiality

A: Ensuring that participants' responses are not identifiable and their privacy is maintained.

informed consent

A: When participants are fully aware of the procedure and purpose of the research before agreeing to take part.

rapport

A: A trusting and comfortable relationship between interviewer and participant that can improve data quality.

validity in self-report

A: The extent to which the method measures what it claims to measure; can be reduced by biases or poor question design.

ecological validity in self-report

A: The extent to which the data from a self-report reflect real-life experiences or behaviours.

volunteer sampling

A: When participants choose to take part, often via ads or sign-ups; common in self-report studies but may cause bias.

face validity

A: The extent to which a test or questionnaire appears to measure what it claims to measure on the surface.

concurrent validity

A: The extent to which the results of a self-report method correlate with another established measure of the same variable.

temporal validity

A: Whether the findings from a self-report study remain true and relevant over time.

interviewer bias

A: When the interviewer’s expectations, tone, or phrasing unintentionally influence participant responses.

inter-rater reliability (in interviews)

A: The consistency of interview data when analysed or scored by different researchers.

triangulation

A: Using multiple methods (e.g. self-report + observation) to study the same phenomenon to increase validity.

qualitative data

A: Non-numerical, descriptive data often produced by open questions and unstructured interviews.

quantitative data

A: Numerical data often produced by closed questions or structured interviews.

case study (related to self-report)

A: An in-depth investigation of an individual or small group, often using interviews as one of the main methods.