Section B: Exam Questions
1. Briefly outline the self-report method used in psychology.
(4)
2. Describe two pieces of research that use the self-report
method. (8)
3. Discuss the strengths and limitations of using self-report to
investigate behaviour. (12)
4. Compare the self-report method with the observational
method. (8)
5. Discuss the usefulness of using self-reports in research. (8)
4 Points to Outline a Self-Report
Self-Reports
• You will need to provide evidence from both
AS and A2 to support the points you will make
in Section B of this paper.
List study and show how it is a self-report.
AS:
A2:
Discuss the strengths and limitations of using self-report to investigate
behaviour. (12)
• Be prepared to be able to do this if they also ask specifically for interviews or
questionnaires.
ST:
WK:
Guidance
Just like at AS you need to write 4 paragraphs:
• 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses
However, you will use the following format:
P
C
E
C
Strength
Point: A strength of the self report method is that
you can find out information that cannot be easily
discovered by experiments or observations .
Comment: This is a strength as by uncovering
information out about certain behaviours
researchers can then decided if there is a need for
further research or put strategies in place to help
prevent certain behaviours from occuring.
Evidence: For example, in Wikstrom and Tafel used both a
questionnaire and an interview to find out reasons why young
people offend. Through the use of self-report they were able
to conclude that individual characteristics and lifestyle were
the most important risk factors of youth criminal behaviour.
Comment: This is a strength as by finding out that some
youths turn to crime because of individual characteristics and
lifestyle researchers can put preventive measures in place to
help those youths, which should stop them from offending.
This information could not have been gathered in an
experiment as it would have been unethical and therefore by
using the self report W & K gathered useful information to
help prevent crime.
Strength
P
C
E
C
Weakness
Point: A weakness of self-report is that
participants may refuse to answer some of the
questions.
Comment:
Weakness
Evidence:
Comment:
Weakness
P:
C:
E:
C:
Other Possibilities
Section B: Exam Questions
1. Briefly outline interviews used in psychology. (4)
2. Describe two pieces of research that use interviews. (8)
3. Discuss the strengths and limitations of using interviews to
investigate behaviour. (12)
4. Compare interviews with the experiments. (8)
5. Discuss the usefulness of using interviews in research. (8)
Section B: Exam Questions
1. Briefly outline questionnaires used in psychology. (4)
2. Describe two pieces of research that use questionnaires. (8)
3. Discuss the strengths and limitations of using questionnaires
to investigate behaviour. (12)
4. Compare questionnaires with observations. (8)
5. Discuss the usefulness of using questionnaires in research.
(8)
Home Work
Answer one of the following questions for 12
Marks:
Discuss the strengths and limitations of using
interviews to investigate behaviour. (12)
Or
Discuss the strengths and limitations of using
questionnaires to investigate behaviour. (12)