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Evaluate the use of questionnaires for research in social psychology. - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 3 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 3
Evaluate the use of questionnaires for research in social psychology.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Evaluate the use of questionnaires for research in social psychology. - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 3 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe Questionnaires
Answer
A questionnaire is a method for gathering self-report data from respondents regarding their peers related to specific attitudes. These tools are particularly useful in social psychology for understanding individuals' perceptions and behaviors.
Closed-ended questions, like those utilizing Likert scales, allow researchers to quantitatively assess and quantify responses about prejudice or other psychological elements. Additionally, open questions give participants the chance to elaborate on their views, providing richer qualitative data.
Step 2
Evaluate Strengths
Answer
One significant strength of questionnaires is their ease of replication; once developed, they can be distributed widely to gather standardized data, facilitating comparisons across different studies. This consistency helps strengthen the reliability of the findings in social psychology research.
Step 3
Assess Limitations
Answer
However, self-reported data might be prone to bias due to social desirability. Respondents may withhold personal insights or distort their opinions to align with perceived societal norms, leading to inaccurate results. This can be seen in studies where the authority figure influences responses, enhancing the risks of misrepresentation.
Moreover, relying solely on questionnaires might overlook in-depth insights since more complex human emotions and behaviors often require nuanced investigation, typically achieved through qualitative methods like interviews.
Step 4
Refer to Relevant Studies
Answer
Research by Adorno et al. (1950) exemplifies the use of F-scale scores in questionnaires for measuring authoritarian personalities, illustrating how these instruments can address broad behavioral theories. Furthermore, studies conducted by Cohrs et al. (2012) have utilized standardized questionnaires to evaluate constructs such as Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA), enhancing the validity and reliability of research in this area.