Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsExamplesAdvantagesDisadvantagesOther Data SourcesHow to Create a Self-Report Study

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Examples

Advantages

Disadvantages

Other Data Sources

How to Create a Self-Report Study

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In psychology, a self-report is any test, measure, orsurveythat relies on an individual’s own report of their symptoms, behaviors, beliefs, or attitudes. Self-report data is gathered typically in paper-and-pencil or electronic format or sometimes through an interview.

Self-reporting is commonly used in psychological studies because it can yield valuable and diagnostic information to a researcher or a clinician.

This article explores examples of how self-report data is used in psychology. It also covers the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.

Examples of Self-Reports

To understand how self-reports are used in psychology, it can be helpful to look at some examples. Some many well-known assessments and inventories rely on self-reporting to collect data.

The MMPI

One of the most commonly used self-report tools is theMinnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)forpersonality testing.This inventory includes more than 500 questions focused on different areas, including behaviors, psychological health, interpersonal relationships, and attitudes. It is often used as a mental health assessment, but it is also used in legal cases, custody evaluations, and as a screening instrument for some careers.

The 16 Personality Factor (PF) Questionnaire

This personality inventory is often used as a diagnostic tool to help therapists plan treatment. It can be used to learn more about various individual characteristics, including empathy, openness, attitudes, attachment quality, and coping style.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

TheMBTIis a popular personality measure that describes personality types in four categories: introversion or extraversion, sensing or intuiting, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving. A letter is taken from each category to describe a person’s personality type, such as INTP or ESFJ.

RecapPersonality inventories and psychology assessments often utilize self-reporting for data collection. Examples include the MMPI, the 16PF Questionnaire, and the MBTI.

Recap

Personality inventories and psychology assessments often utilize self-reporting for data collection. Examples include the MMPI, the 16PF Questionnaire, and the MBTI.

Advantages of Self-Report Data

Self-reports can be made in private and can be anonymized to protect sensitive information and perhaps promote truthful responses.

Disadvantages of Self-Report Data

Self-reports are subject to these biases and limitations:

How Cognitive Biases Influence the Way You Think and Act

Self-Report Info With Other Data

Most experts in psychological research and diagnosis suggest that self-report data should not be used alone, as it tends to be biased.Research is best done when combining self-reporting with other information, such as an individual’s behavior or physiological data.

This “multi-modal” or “multi-method” assessment provides a more global, and therefore more likely accurate, picture of the subject.

If you are creating a self-report tool for psychology research, there are a few key steps you should follow. First, decide what type of data you want to collect. This will determine the format of your questions and the type of scale you use.

Next, create a pool of questions that are clear and concise. The goal is to have several items that cover all the topics you wish to address. Finally, pilot your study with a small group to ensure it is valid and reliable.

RecapWhen creating a self-report study, determine what information you need to collect and test the assessment with a group of individuals to determine if the instrument is reliable.

When creating a self-report study, determine what information you need to collect and test the assessment with a group of individuals to determine if the instrument is reliable.

Summary

Self-reporting can be a useful tool for collecting data. The benefits of self-report data include lower costs and the ability to collect data from a large number of people. However, self-report data can also be biased and prone to errors.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Levin-Aspenson HF, Watson D.Mode of administration effects in psychopathology assessment: Analyses of gender, age, and education differences in self-rated versus interview-based depression.Psychol Assess.2018;30(3):287-295. doi:10.1037/pas0000474Tarescavage AM, Ben-Porath YS.Examination of the feasibility and utility of flexible and conditional administration of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form.Psychol Assess.2017;29(11):1337-1348. doi:10.1037/pas0000442Warner CH, Appenzeller GN, Grieger T, et al.Importance of anonymity to encourage honest reporting in mental health screening after combat deployment.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68(10):1065-1071. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.112Devaux M, Sassi F.Social disparities in hazardous alcohol use: Self-report bias may lead to incorrect estimates.Eur J Public Health. 2016;26(1):129-134. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckv190Althubaiti A.Information bias in health research: Definition, pitfalls, and adjustment methods.J Multidiscip Healthc. 2016;9:211-217. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S104807Hopwood CJ, Good EW, Morey LC.Validity of the DSM-5 Levels of Personality Functioning Scale-Self Report.J Pers Assess.2018;100(6):650-659. doi:10.1080/00223891.2017.1420660

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Levin-Aspenson HF, Watson D.Mode of administration effects in psychopathology assessment: Analyses of gender, age, and education differences in self-rated versus interview-based depression.Psychol Assess.2018;30(3):287-295. doi:10.1037/pas0000474Tarescavage AM, Ben-Porath YS.Examination of the feasibility and utility of flexible and conditional administration of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form.Psychol Assess.2017;29(11):1337-1348. doi:10.1037/pas0000442Warner CH, Appenzeller GN, Grieger T, et al.Importance of anonymity to encourage honest reporting in mental health screening after combat deployment.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68(10):1065-1071. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.112Devaux M, Sassi F.Social disparities in hazardous alcohol use: Self-report bias may lead to incorrect estimates.Eur J Public Health. 2016;26(1):129-134. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckv190Althubaiti A.Information bias in health research: Definition, pitfalls, and adjustment methods.J Multidiscip Healthc. 2016;9:211-217. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S104807Hopwood CJ, Good EW, Morey LC.Validity of the DSM-5 Levels of Personality Functioning Scale-Self Report.J Pers Assess.2018;100(6):650-659. doi:10.1080/00223891.2017.1420660

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Levin-Aspenson HF, Watson D.Mode of administration effects in psychopathology assessment: Analyses of gender, age, and education differences in self-rated versus interview-based depression.Psychol Assess.2018;30(3):287-295. doi:10.1037/pas0000474Tarescavage AM, Ben-Porath YS.Examination of the feasibility and utility of flexible and conditional administration of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form.Psychol Assess.2017;29(11):1337-1348. doi:10.1037/pas0000442Warner CH, Appenzeller GN, Grieger T, et al.Importance of anonymity to encourage honest reporting in mental health screening after combat deployment.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68(10):1065-1071. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.112Devaux M, Sassi F.Social disparities in hazardous alcohol use: Self-report bias may lead to incorrect estimates.Eur J Public Health. 2016;26(1):129-134. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckv190Althubaiti A.Information bias in health research: Definition, pitfalls, and adjustment methods.J Multidiscip Healthc. 2016;9:211-217. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S104807Hopwood CJ, Good EW, Morey LC.Validity of the DSM-5 Levels of Personality Functioning Scale-Self Report.J Pers Assess.2018;100(6):650-659. doi:10.1080/00223891.2017.1420660

Levin-Aspenson HF, Watson D.Mode of administration effects in psychopathology assessment: Analyses of gender, age, and education differences in self-rated versus interview-based depression.Psychol Assess.2018;30(3):287-295. doi:10.1037/pas0000474

Tarescavage AM, Ben-Porath YS.Examination of the feasibility and utility of flexible and conditional administration of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form.Psychol Assess.2017;29(11):1337-1348. doi:10.1037/pas0000442

Warner CH, Appenzeller GN, Grieger T, et al.Importance of anonymity to encourage honest reporting in mental health screening after combat deployment.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68(10):1065-1071. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.112

Devaux M, Sassi F.Social disparities in hazardous alcohol use: Self-report bias may lead to incorrect estimates.Eur J Public Health. 2016;26(1):129-134. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckv190

Althubaiti A.Information bias in health research: Definition, pitfalls, and adjustment methods.J Multidiscip Healthc. 2016;9:211-217. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S104807

Hopwood CJ, Good EW, Morey LC.Validity of the DSM-5 Levels of Personality Functioning Scale-Self Report.J Pers Assess.2018;100(6):650-659. doi:10.1080/00223891.2017.1420660

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