Self reports, Questionnaires and Interviews

Describe questionnaires

Pre-set list of written questions to which a pts responds

• Cost effective, gather large amounts of data quickly, data esp with closed qs easy to analyse

• Responses may not be truthful- demand characteristics and social desirability- response bias (staying neutral or reading too quick)

Describe structured interview

Live encounter with a set of pre-determined questions that are asked in a fixed order

• Straightforward to replicate due to standardised format- reduces differences between interviewers

• Not possible for interviewers to deviate from the topic or explain their qs- limits richness of data and unexpected info

Describe unstructured interview

Live encounter with no set questions (a certain topic will be discussed and interaction is free flowing)

• More flexibility, interviewer can ask follow up points and find out unexpected info

• Risk of interviewer bias, analysis of data is not straightforward

What is a semi-structured interview?

There is a list of questions which have been worked out in advance, but interviewers can also ask follow up qs based on previous answers

What is self report technique?

Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions or experiences

What is an open question- used in questionnaires and interviews?

No fixed choice of response- produce qualitative data but contain wide range of different responses that may be difficult to analyse

What is a closed question- used in questionnaires and interviews?

Fixed choice of responses, either quantitative or qualitative data which may lack depth and detail

• Likert scales: respondent indicates agreement or disagreement ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree

• Rating scales: respondents identify a value that represents the strength eg 1 horror films are very entertaining or 5 not entertaining at all

• Fixed choice :list of possible options and respondents indicate those that apply to them eg tick box

How to write good questions for questionnaires and interviews

• Avoid jargon (terms only familiar to those within a specialised field)

  • Use easily understood, simple questions

• Avoid using emotive language and leading questions

  • Reveals a researchers attitude about a topic, neutral words, leading questions guide a respondent to a particular answer

• Avoid double barrelled questions and double negatives

  • Respondent may agree to half the q but not the other, double negative can be difficult to decipher

Why are pilot studies useful?

Researchers can test whether the proposed research is practical and achievable- determine whether ps understand qs and how long they should be given (if questionnaire)

How can you avoid interviewer bias?

Standardisation of questions- all interviewers ask same questions- interviewers expectations cannot influence the responses through phrasing of questions

How to design interviews?

• List of questions interviewer intends to cover should be standardised to reduce interviewer bias

• Single pt or group, interviewer take notes or record

• Conducted in a quiet room, away from people

• Start with neutral qs and establish rapport

• Interviewees reminded of confidentiality of answers esp in sensitive, personal topics

How to improve validity in self-report

Avoid leading questions - reduces bias

Avoid double-barrelled questions - improves clarity

Clear, simple wording - prevents misunderstanding

Pilot study - identifies issues

Anonymity/confidentiality - reduces social desirability

How to increase reliability in self-report

• Test-retest - reliability measured through a measure producing the same results when used on the same participants on two different occasions

• Inter-rater reliability - the extent to which two or more observers record or score behaviour in the same way

• Split-half reliability - type of internal consistency where the test is divided into two halves and the scores are correlated

• Internal reliability - the extent to which items on a test measure the same construct (split-half method)

How would you write a scientific report?

• Title

• Abstract : summary of research question, method, results and conclusion

• Introduction: rationale for research , aim and hypothesis

• Method: design, materials, participants, procedure, timings, control

• Results: mean/median, stats tests

• Discussion: implications of results, limitations, suggestions for further research, improvements, practical applications

• References: work of other psychologists referenced

• Appendices: working for stats tests, individual data, consent form, material for replication

How to write a reference?

Name (last name then unreal of first name), date, title, place of publication, publisher

Duck, S. (1992). Human Relationships. London. Sage

What is peer review

Research is given to another expert to check for errors/validity before publication

Why is peer review important?

To check data is valid so research of low quality isn’t published

How to write a consent form?

• Needs to be written as a consent form: dear, addressed to reader

• Gives detail about what the investigation is

• Info about ethical issues: confidentiality, right to withdraw, debrief, psych harm

• At end should say: Do you consent to research?