He opts to use a self-report method. Which of the following is not true about this method?
A. Most direct means of gathering information.
B. Versatile in terms of content coverage.
C. Most accurate and valid method of data gathering.
D. Yields information that would be difficult to gather by another method.
Correct Answer: C. Most accurate and valid method of data gathering.
The most serious disadvantage of this method is the accuracy and validity of the information gathered. Self-reporting is a common approach for gathering data in epidemiologic and medical research. This method requires participants to respond to the researcher’s questions without his/her interference.
Option A: In general, they are inexpensive and simple to administer, making it possible to collect a broad amount of data in a short time. Today, the possibility of online surveys has made data collection even easier.
Option B: Another important consideration is the relevance of the questions for the specific participants of the survey. If the participant finds the topic interesting and relevant, they are more motivated to respond and complete all the questions.
Option D: In addition, the results can be automatically collected, reducing the risk of errors occurring with manual registration processes. Further, the results are not dependent on an interviewer´s interpretation of behavior, which may influence the results from a clinical interview.