Evaluating Questionnaires

D2b1

Strengths of Questionnaires

Can use standardised instructions Allow for informed consent Allow for right to withdraw Can represent real life

Standardised instructions

Tell the participants what to do . The same for everyone. If the researcher was to say the instructions it might

influence how the participants answer. Needed to measure the dependant variable. Make sure people are treated the same in each

condition. Important for CONTROL

Do Quick Check A

Informed Consent

Need to know what the study is about so that they can give their consent.

Questionnaires may ask people personal questions so Ethics is important.

In a questionnaire you can collect information and ask if people are happy to continue.

Good Ethically and easy to get consent

Right to Withdraw

Participants should be told they have the right to withdraw.

They then know they do not have to answer the whole questionnaire.

The right to withdraw can be printed on the front which is good, it makes it really clear.

Representing Real Life

People can describe what they do in everyday situations.

Making this more realistic then some experiments.

Questionnaires can ask about what dreams are like in the home, which is the natural environment as opposed to conducting the experiment in a lab.

Weaknesses of Questionnaires

Response Biases Social desirability biases The need to hide the aims

Response Bias

Could fall into patterns of answering.

If you guess that the questionnaire is about TV Violence and you are against it, you might give answers expressing that view.

If they volunteer for the questionnaire they are generally helpful;

This could mean they give answers the researcher wants.

Getting into patterns

E.g. saying yes to every answer or choosing the middle answer.

To reduce response Bias you could use a Likert-Style so some expressing positive attitudes and some expressing negative attitudes.

Do Quick Check B

Social Desirability Bias

When participants answer questions they know someone is going to read, they will want to look good. (this could be unconsciously). Giving answers they believe are wanted rather than what

they really believe.

This could be reduced by giving the participants numbers rather than using their real names.

Hiding the Aims

Sometimes you need to hide the aims from the participants What ethical problem does this pose?

Complete Questions 1 to 4.