PSYCHOLOGY - RESEARCH METHODS STUDY GUIDE #28
Self-report techniques - correct answer 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 - correct answer a set of written questions (sometimes called items) used
to access a persons' thoughts/experiences
Strengths of questionnaires - correct answer + cost effective
+ can gather large amounts of data quickly
+ can be completed without the researcher being present
Weaknesses of questionnaires - correct answer - can produce response bias
- p.ps may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
- demand characteristics / social desirability may occur
Open questions - correct answer questions with no fixed answer/response and
respondents can answer in any way they wish.
Advantages & disadvantages of an open question - correct answer + 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 analyse
Closed question - correct answer questions with a fixed answer/ the choice of response
is determined by the question setter.
Advantages & disadvantages of a closed question - correct answer + people have to
same perception of the q&a
+ quick and easy to answer
+ quantitative data is easier to analyse
- not detailed or in depth answers
- don't find out the meaning behind the answer
Interview - correct answer 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 - correct answer made up of pre-determined questions and are
asked in a fixed order. Basically like a questionnaire but conducted face to face.
Unstructured interview - correct answer 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 - correct answer 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 - correct answer + straight forward to
replicate
+ reduces differences between interviews
+ easier to analyse
+ 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 - correct answer + can get more
detailed answers as people can elaborate
+ more flexible as you can gain insight
- not easy to replicate
- not easy to analyse as you get irrelevant information
- experimenter effects can occur
Leading questions - correct answer encourages p.ps to give a particular answer e.g
don't you think...?
Ambiguity - correct answer questions which can be interpreted in various ways. They
can mean different things to different people.
Loaded questions - correct answer they are questions which contain emotive language
which is likely to produce an emotional reaction in the respondent.
Double-barreled questions - correct answer they contain two options within a single
question.
Aim - correct answer a general statement that the researcher intends to investigate.
Hypothesis - correct answer a detailed statement which is clear, precise and testable
that states the relationship between variables being tested.
Directional hypothesis - correct answer the researcher makes it clear what difference is
anticipated between the 2 conditions or groups.
(one tailed).
Non-directional hypothesis - correct answer simply states that there is a difference but
not what the difference will be.
Null hypothesis - correct answer there will be no relationship between the 2 variables.
Self-report techniques - correct answer 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 - correct answer a set of written questions (sometimes called items) used
to access a persons' thoughts/experiences
Strengths of questionnaires - correct answer + cost effective
+ can gather large amounts of data quickly
+ can be completed without the researcher being present
Weaknesses of questionnaires - correct answer - can produce response bias
- p.ps may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
- demand characteristics / social desirability may occur
Open questions - correct answer questions with no fixed answer/response and
respondents can answer in any way they wish.
Advantages & disadvantages of an open question - correct answer + 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 analyse
Closed question - correct answer questions with a fixed answer/ the choice of response
is determined by the question setter.
Advantages & disadvantages of a closed question - correct answer + people have to
same perception of the q&a
+ quick and easy to answer
+ quantitative data is easier to analyse
- not detailed or in depth answers
- don't find out the meaning behind the answer
Interview - correct answer 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 - correct answer made up of pre-determined questions and are
asked in a fixed order. Basically like a questionnaire but conducted face to face.
Unstructured interview - correct answer 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 - correct answer 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 - correct answer + straight forward to
replicate
+ reduces differences between interviews
+ easier to analyse
+ 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 - correct answer + can get more
detailed answers as people can elaborate
+ more flexible as you can gain insight
- not easy to replicate
- not easy to analyse as you get irrelevant information
- experimenter effects can occur
Leading questions - correct answer encourages p.ps to give a particular answer e.g
don't you think...?
Ambiguity - correct answer questions which can be interpreted in various ways. They
can mean different things to different people.
Loaded questions - correct answer they are questions which contain emotive language
which is likely to produce an emotional reaction in the respondent.
Double-barreled questions - correct answer they contain two options within a single
question.
Aim - correct answer a general statement that the researcher intends to investigate.
Hypothesis - correct answer a detailed statement which is clear, precise and testable
that states the relationship between variables being tested.
Directional hypothesis - correct answer the researcher makes it clear what difference is
anticipated between the 2 conditions or groups.
(one tailed).
Non-directional hypothesis - correct answer simply states that there is a difference but
not what the difference will be.
Null hypothesis - correct answer there will be no relationship between the 2 variables.
