AQA PSYCHOLOGY - RESEARCH METHODS

Self-report techniques - Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviors and experiences related to a given topic. Questionnaire - A set of written questions (sometimes called items) used to access a persons' thoughts/experiences Strengths of questionnaires – -Cost effective -Can gather large amounts of data quickly -Can be completed without the researcher being present Weaknesses of questionnaires – - Can produce response bias - Participants may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly - Demand Characteristics / Social Desirability may occur Open Questions - Questions with no fixed answer/response and respondents can answer in any way they wish. Advantages & Disadvantages of an Open Question – - Get more information - Produces qualitative data - depth and detail - People can miss them out as they can't be bothered to answer them - Harder to analyze Closed Question - Questions with a fixed answer/ the choice of response is determined by the question setter. Advantages & Disadvantages of a Closed Question - - People have to same perception of the Q&A -Quick and easy to answer - Quantitative data is easier to analyze - Not detailed or in depth answers - Don't find out the meaning behind the answer Interview - A live encounter (face to face or on the phone) where one person asks a set of questions to assess an interviewees thoughts/experiences. They can be structured, semi structured or unstructured. Structured Interview - Made up of pre-determined questions and are asked in a fixed order. Basically like a questionnaire but conducted face to face. Unstructured Interview - Works like a conversation. There are no set questions. There is a general aim that a certain topic will be discussed and interaction tends to be free flowing. Semi-structured Interview - There is a list of questions that have been worked out in advance but interviewers are also free to ask follow up questions when they feel it is appropriate. Strengths & Weaknesses of Structured Interview – - Straight forward to replicate - Reduces differences between interviews - Easier to analyze -Get answers you're looking for - Get less information as P.ps can't deviate from the point - Don't find out people's worldwide views Strengths & Weaknesses of Unstructured Interview – - Can get more detailed answers as people can elaborate - More flexible as you can gain insight - Not easy to replicate - Not easy to analyze as you get irrelevant information - Experimenter effects can occur