Topic: Psychology- Self Report Design
Key points/ Notes/Diagrams:
Main Ideas/
There are a number of different types of closed questions:
Questions: - Likert scale (e.g 16 Personalities MBTI or the Eysenck test)
- Rating scale
There are different - Fixed choice option
types of closed
questions? What Likert scale- Respondents indicate their agreement with a statement using a 5 point
are they? scale. The purpose of a likert scale is to identify how far someone agrees or
disagrees.
What is the likert Rating Scales- Similar to a likert scale but respondents choose how strongly they
scale? feel about a topic.
What is the rating Fixed-choice option- This includes a list of possible options and respondents
scale? indicate those that apply to them. Limits the participants to pre-made answers.
What is a fixed- Designing interviews-
choice option? - Planning questions
● Report should be established at start with neutral questions
- Where and when it will take place
How do ● List of questions interviewer tends to cover
researchers design ● These should be standardised to reduce researcher bias
interviews? ● 1-to-1 interviews should be conducted in a quiet room away from
people
How do - How results will be analysed
researchers write ● Can be recorded and analysed later or the interviewers can take
good questions? notes
● Interviewees should be reminded of confidentiality.
How do
Writing good questions:
researchers 1. Reduce overuse of Jargon (specialist terms)
balance (e.g do you agree that maternal deprivation leads to affectionless
interviews? psychopathy in later life?)
What is an 2. Reduce emotive language and leading questions
example of a likert (e.g is it not obvious that student fees should be abolished? Boxing is a
scale closed barbaric sport so shouldn’t it be banned?)
question?
3. Reduce double-barrelled questions and double negatives.
(Two questions in one- e.g Do you agree that footballers are overpaid and
that they should pay 20% of their salary to charity?)
Balancing interviews:
Filler questions- Include questions irrelevant to DV to distract respondents of the
main purpose, reducing demand characteristics.
Sequence of questions- Start with an easy and light question, leaving emotive
questions (that may make respondents feel anxious or defensive) towards the end ,
so that they are more relaxed.
Pilot study- questions can be tested on a small group of people, so that questions
can be refined if any problems are found.
Key points/ Notes/Diagrams:
Main Ideas/
There are a number of different types of closed questions:
Questions: - Likert scale (e.g 16 Personalities MBTI or the Eysenck test)
- Rating scale
There are different - Fixed choice option
types of closed
questions? What Likert scale- Respondents indicate their agreement with a statement using a 5 point
are they? scale. The purpose of a likert scale is to identify how far someone agrees or
disagrees.
What is the likert Rating Scales- Similar to a likert scale but respondents choose how strongly they
scale? feel about a topic.
What is the rating Fixed-choice option- This includes a list of possible options and respondents
scale? indicate those that apply to them. Limits the participants to pre-made answers.
What is a fixed- Designing interviews-
choice option? - Planning questions
● Report should be established at start with neutral questions
- Where and when it will take place
How do ● List of questions interviewer tends to cover
researchers design ● These should be standardised to reduce researcher bias
interviews? ● 1-to-1 interviews should be conducted in a quiet room away from
people
How do - How results will be analysed
researchers write ● Can be recorded and analysed later or the interviewers can take
good questions? notes
● Interviewees should be reminded of confidentiality.
How do
Writing good questions:
researchers 1. Reduce overuse of Jargon (specialist terms)
balance (e.g do you agree that maternal deprivation leads to affectionless
interviews? psychopathy in later life?)
What is an 2. Reduce emotive language and leading questions
example of a likert (e.g is it not obvious that student fees should be abolished? Boxing is a
scale closed barbaric sport so shouldn’t it be banned?)
question?
3. Reduce double-barrelled questions and double negatives.
(Two questions in one- e.g Do you agree that footballers are overpaid and
that they should pay 20% of their salary to charity?)
Balancing interviews:
Filler questions- Include questions irrelevant to DV to distract respondents of the
main purpose, reducing demand characteristics.
Sequence of questions- Start with an easy and light question, leaving emotive
questions (that may make respondents feel anxious or defensive) towards the end ,
so that they are more relaxed.
Pilot study- questions can be tested on a small group of people, so that questions
can be refined if any problems are found.
