Self-report techniques

what are self report techniques

participant consciously provide personal information by responding to questions

two types of self report techniques

• interviews

• questionnaire

Question types (Open vs Closed)

Open

• can respond in any format (qualitative data)

Closed

• provides limited response (quantitative data)

What should be considered when designing questionaries and interviews

• clear wording - no jargon

• bias avoidance

• pilot testing

• filler question

Name and explain three types of interview formats

• structured interview - fixed list of question for every participant

• unstructured interview - flexible conversation and no list of questions

• semi-structured interview - questions are pre-planned but interviewer can change it up

Strengths of self report techniques

• Replicable - questions can be reused

• Statistical analysis - closed questions so quantitative data

• rich detail - open questions can describe experience in own words

Weakness of self report techniques

• social desirability bias - respond in way that puts them in a positive light

• acquiescence bias - agree with statement regardless of content

• interviewer effects - influencing the response

• cost and sample size - training and takes time

• question handling - can skip or give superficial answers

comparison of questionnaire vs interviews

Questionnaires

• less desirability bias - more comfortable telling truth

• less time consuming and cheaper

• interviewers require training

Interviews

• less desirability bias - more easier to lie on questionnaire

• can record both non verbal and verbal info so richer data