Self-Report Techniques, Questionnaires And Interviews

What is a self-report technique?

Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions and/or experiences related to a given topic.

What is a questionnaire?

A set of written questions (sometimes referred to as ‘items‘) used to assess a person’s thoughts and/or experiences.

What are the strengths of questionnaires?

• They are cost-effective.

• They can gather large amounts of data quickly.

• They can be completed without the prescence of the researcher.

• Data produced is usually straitforward to analyse.

How is questionnaires gathering large amounts of data quickly a strength of them?

Because they can distributed to large numbers of people and it is the number of people that is important as this determines the volume of data collected.

Why is the data produced usually being straitforward to analyse a stength of questionnaires?

The data lends itself to ststistical analysis, and comparisons between groups of people can be made using graphs and charts.

What are the limitations of questionnaires?

• Responses given may be not be truthful, due to aquiescence or response bias.

• Social desirability bias.

What is meant by aquiescence bias?

The tendency in questionnaires to agree without reading the question properly.

What is meant by response bias?

Where respondents tend to respond in a similar way.

What is meant by social desirability bias?

When respondents are keen to present themselves in a positive influence, thus influencing their answers.

What is an interview?

A ‘live’ encounter (face-to-face or on the phone) where one person (the interviewer) aska a set of questions to assess the interviewees thoughts and/or experiences.

What are the two types of interviews?

Structures and unstructured.

What is a structured interview?

Interviews made up of a pre-determined set of questions,

What are the strengths of a structured interview?

• Straightforward to replicate.

• The format also reduces differences between interviewers.

What are the limitations of a structured interview?

Interviewers cannot deviate from the topic or elaborate their points.

Why is the interviewer being less flexible with questions a limitation for structured interviewers?

It makes it difficult to gain insight from the interviewee and may be a source of frustration for some.

What is an ustructured interview?

An interview with no set questions, like a conversation.

What are the strengths of an unstructured interview?

There is greater flexibility.

Why is greater flexibiity a strength of unstructured interviews?

Points can be followed up as they arise and the interviwer is more likely to gain insight into the interviewee’s worldview and collect unexpected information.

What are the limitations of a interview?

Increased risk of interview bias?

Why is interview bias a disadvantage of unstructured interviews?

Closer dialogue between the interviewer and interviewee means more opportunities for unconscious clues. The interviwere may encourage the interviewer to explore certin topics when the interaction is ‘free-flowing‘.