AQA PSYCHOLOGY- SELF REPORTS QUESTIONS
& DETAILED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS ALL
PASSED
1. Self-report A self-report is any method that involves asking a P about their
feelings,
attitudes, beliefs and so on. Examples of self-reports are questionnaires
and interviews. Self-reports are often used as a way of gaining Ps'
responses in observational studies and experiments.
2. Questionnaire Questionnaires are a type of self-report method that consist of a set of
questions
usually in a highly structured written form. Questionnaires can contain
both open questions and closed questions and Ps record their own
answers.
3. Interview Interviews are a type of spoken questionnaire where the interviewer
records the
responses. Interviews can be structured with a predetermined set of
questions or unstructured where no questions are decided in advance.
4. Strengths of method
using self-report
1/
19
,AQA PSYCHOLOGY- SELF REPORTS QUESTIONS
& DETAILED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS ALL
PASSED
It allows Ps to describe their
own experiences rather than
inferring this from
observation. Questionnaires
and interviews are often able
to study large sam- ples of
people fairly easy and quickly.
They are able to examine a
large number of variables
and can ask people to reveal
behaviour and feelings
which have been
experienced in real
situations.
2/
19
, AQA PSYCHOLOGY- SELF REPORTS QUESTIONS
& DETAILED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS ALL
PASSED
5. Weaknesses of
using self- Ps may not respond truthfully, either because they cannot
report method remember or be- cause they wish to present themselves in a socially
acceptable manner. Social desirability bias can be a big problem
with self-report measures as Ps often answer in a way to portray
themselves in a good light. Questions are not always clear and we
do not know if the respondent has really understood the question,
so we would not be collecting valid data (internal validity). If
questionnaires are sent out, response rate can be very low. Questions
can often be leading questions, which force the respondent to give a
particular reply.
Unstructured interviews can be very time consuming and diflcult to
carry out whereas structured interviews can restrict the
respondents' replies.
6. Social
desirability bias When people try to show themselves in the best possible way, so
that when answering questions in interviews or questionnaires they
give answers that are socially acceptable but are not truthful.
3/
19
& DETAILED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS ALL
PASSED
1. Self-report A self-report is any method that involves asking a P about their
feelings,
attitudes, beliefs and so on. Examples of self-reports are questionnaires
and interviews. Self-reports are often used as a way of gaining Ps'
responses in observational studies and experiments.
2. Questionnaire Questionnaires are a type of self-report method that consist of a set of
questions
usually in a highly structured written form. Questionnaires can contain
both open questions and closed questions and Ps record their own
answers.
3. Interview Interviews are a type of spoken questionnaire where the interviewer
records the
responses. Interviews can be structured with a predetermined set of
questions or unstructured where no questions are decided in advance.
4. Strengths of method
using self-report
1/
19
,AQA PSYCHOLOGY- SELF REPORTS QUESTIONS
& DETAILED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS ALL
PASSED
It allows Ps to describe their
own experiences rather than
inferring this from
observation. Questionnaires
and interviews are often able
to study large sam- ples of
people fairly easy and quickly.
They are able to examine a
large number of variables
and can ask people to reveal
behaviour and feelings
which have been
experienced in real
situations.
2/
19
, AQA PSYCHOLOGY- SELF REPORTS QUESTIONS
& DETAILED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS ALL
PASSED
5. Weaknesses of
using self- Ps may not respond truthfully, either because they cannot
report method remember or be- cause they wish to present themselves in a socially
acceptable manner. Social desirability bias can be a big problem
with self-report measures as Ps often answer in a way to portray
themselves in a good light. Questions are not always clear and we
do not know if the respondent has really understood the question,
so we would not be collecting valid data (internal validity). If
questionnaires are sent out, response rate can be very low. Questions
can often be leading questions, which force the respondent to give a
particular reply.
Unstructured interviews can be very time consuming and diflcult to
carry out whereas structured interviews can restrict the
respondents' replies.
6. Social
desirability bias When people try to show themselves in the best possible way, so
that when answering questions in interviews or questionnaires they
give answers that are socially acceptable but are not truthful.
3/
19
