Operational Definitions

Full Answer Section

• Can be used to collect data from a large number of people quickly and easily.

Disadvantages:

• Susceptible to biases. Self-report measures can be susceptible to a variety of biases, such as social desirability bias, recall bias, and response bias.
• Requires participants to be able to accurately and reliably report on their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• May not be suitable for all participants. For example, young children or people with cognitive impairments may not be able to accurately complete self-report measures.

Direct observation

Advantages:

• Less susceptible to biases than self-report. Direct observation is less susceptible to biases because it does not rely on participants to report on their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• Can provide objective data on observable behaviors. Direct observation can provide objective data on observable behaviors, such as frequency, duration, and intensity.
• Can be used to collect data on behaviors that participants may be unaware of or unwilling to report.

Disadvantages:

• Can be time-consuming and expensive to conduct. Direct observation often requires trained observers to collect data over an extended period of time.
• May be disruptive to the participants' natural behavior. Observers may be detected by the participants, which could alter their behavior.
• May not be feasible in all settings. Direct observation is not always feasible in certain settings, such as clinical settings or private homes.

Overall, both self-report and direct observation have their own advantages and disadvantages. The best method to use will depend on the specific research question and the characteristics of the participants.

Here is a table that summarizes the key advantages and disadvantages of self-report and direct observation:

Researchers often use a combination of self-report and direct observation methods to get a more complete picture of a particular phenomenon. For example, a researcher might use a self-report questionnaire to assess a participant's anxiety levels, and then use direct observation to assess their anxious behaviors during a public speaking task.

Sample Answer

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Self-Report and Direct Observation

Self-report

Advantages:

• Relatively inexpensive and easy to administer. Self-report measures can be administered in a variety of ways, including paper-and-pencil questionnaires, online surveys, and interviews.
• Can access internal states and processes. Self-report measures are the only way to directly measure internal states and processes, such as thoughts, feelings, motivations, and intentions.