Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using self-report questionnaires to measure kleptomania. You should include a conclusion in your answer.
Marks: Question requires discussion; always plural of each argument, and always requires conclusion.
1 mark for each advantage/disadvantage (however detailed) and related to the question up to 4 max. 2 marks max for two strengths/weaknesses unrelated to the question. 1 mark for conclusion.
Most likely answer (other appropriate responses to be credited):
Strengths:
· questionnaires using quantitative data provide the therapist with useful information so they can assess the extent of the problem (1 mark). The
K-SAS question can show that a person may spend over 10 hours per week thinking about stealing (+1 mark)
· in general, asking people directly means that people are given the opportunity to express their feelings and explain their behaviour rather than the researcher trying to work out reasons for their behaviour from other methods. The K-SAS gives the therapist important information
· relatively large numbers of participants can be done relatively easily. Questionnaires are easy to replicate
· data can be quantitative, but may also be qualitative depending on type of question
Weaknesses:
· some participants may provide socially desirable responses; not give truthful answers; respond to demand characteristics
· closed/fixed choice questions may force people into choosing answers that do not reflect their true opinion and therefore may lower the validity
· researchers have to be careful about use of leading questions; it could affect the validity of the data collected
Conclusion: any appropriate conclusion drawn from the discussion that has been presented. 1 mark if appropriate. A conclusion is a ‘decision reached by reasoning’ and so a summary of points already made scores 0 marks.