A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What type of research involves participants providing information through a questionnaire or interview?

1. Experimental research

2. Self-report

3. Correlational research

4. Observational research

The correct answer is: Self-report

Self-report research is a method where participants convey information about themselves, often through instruments like questionnaires or interviews. This approach allows researchers to gather subjective data regarding thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and self-perceptions directly from the participants. In self-report studies, individuals can express their beliefs or experiences in their own words, which can lead to rich qualitative data. This method is commonly used in psychology to assess a wide array of topics, such as mental health, personality traits, and social behaviors, as it provides insight into the participant's internal states that are not easily observed externally. In contrast, the other research types do not rely primarily on participant disclosures. Experimental research focuses on manipulating independent variables to determine effects on dependent variables, while correlational research examines relationships between variables without intervention. Observational research entails examining subjects in their natural environment without direct interaction, thus it does not collect personal insights from participants.