AQA PSYCHOLOGY: SELF REPORTS EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE
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.
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.
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.
Strengths of using self-report method
It allows Ps to describe their own experiences rather than inferring this from observation. Questionnaires
and interviews are often able to study large samples 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.
Weaknesses of using self-report method
Ps may not respond truthfully, either because they cannot remember or because 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 difficult to carry out whereas structured
interviews can restrict the respondents' replies.
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.
Hawthorne effect
When people are aware that they are being studied, they are likely to try harder on tasks and pay more
attention.
Screw you effect
Guessing the purpose of the research and trying to annoy the researcher by giving the wrong results
Demand characteristics
Cues in the environment that help the participant work out what the research hypothesis is.
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE
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.
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.
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.
Strengths of using self-report method
It allows Ps to describe their own experiences rather than inferring this from observation. Questionnaires
and interviews are often able to study large samples 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.
Weaknesses of using self-report method
Ps may not respond truthfully, either because they cannot remember or because 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 difficult to carry out whereas structured
interviews can restrict the respondents' replies.
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.
Hawthorne effect
When people are aware that they are being studied, they are likely to try harder on tasks and pay more
attention.
Screw you effect
Guessing the purpose of the research and trying to annoy the researcher by giving the wrong results
Demand characteristics
Cues in the environment that help the participant work out what the research hypothesis is.
