Class practical: survey and questionnaire

Introduction to the Human Relationships Practical

Welcome to one of the most hands-on parts of your IB Psychology journey! In the "Human Relationships" context, you aren't just reading about how people interact—you are going to learn how to investigate it yourself. For this specific area of the curriculum, the IB requires you to engage with the survey and questionnaire method. Don't worry if research methods seem a bit dry at first. Think of a survey as a way to "check the pulse" of a group of people. Whether you are curious about how people choose their friends or how social media affects modern dating, the survey is your primary tool for gathering data in this context.

What is a Survey/Questionnaire?

In the IB Psychology syllabus, the terms survey and questionnaire are used interchangeably. At its heart, this method involves collecting self-reported data from a group of participants. Unlike an experiment where you change something (like giving one group caffeine and the other water), in a survey, you are simply asking people to tell you about their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Key Features:
• It uses a set of predefined questions.
• It can collect quantitative data (numbers, like "on a scale of 1 to 10") or qualitative data (words and descriptions).
• It is excellent for reaching a larger number of people quickly. Analogy: If an observation is like watching a movie of someone’s life, a survey is like asking them to write a review of that movie. You get their internal perspective, but you have to trust that they are telling the truth!

The Rules for Your Class Practical

For your Human Relationships practical, there are a few "non-negotiable" rules set by the IB:
1. The Method: You must use a survey or questionnaire.
2. The Context: Your questions must be about human relationships (e.g., how people form bonds, maintain friendships, or handle social influence).
3. Sample Size: You must have a minimum of \(n = 10\) participants.

Connecting to the Six Concepts

The IB wants you to think like a scientist. When designing or evaluating a survey in the context of relationships, you should use these concepts as a lens: Measurement How do we turn a "feeling" like love or trust into data? We use measurement. This might involve Likert scales (e.g., Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree). For example, "How much do you trust your best friend on a scale of 1-5?" Bias This is a big one! Since surveys rely on people being honest, they are prone to social desirability bias. This is when participants answer in a way that makes them look "good" or "normal" rather than how they actually feel. In relationship research, someone might say they are a better listener than they actually are to avoid looking bad. Perspective A survey captures the perspective of the individual. In the context of human relationships, two people in the same friendship might have totally different perspectives on how "close" they are. A survey helps us see the world through the participant's eyes. Responsibility As a researcher, you have a responsibility to your participants. This includes ethical considerations like:
• Informed Consent: Telling them what the survey is about before they start.
• Anonymity: Ensuring their names aren't attached to their answers, especially if the questions are about personal relationships.
• Right to Withdraw: Letting them stop the survey at any time.

Designing Your Research

When you are asked to design a study (which you will do for your Paper 2 and your Internal Assessment proposal), keep these steps in mind: Step 1: Identify the Population of Interest Who are you studying? Are you looking at "high school students," "long-distance couples," or "working professionals"? Step 2: Sampling How will you find your 10+ participants?
• Opportunity Sampling: Using whoever is available at the time.
• Self-Selected Sampling: Asking for volunteers. Step 3: Question Construction
• Closed questions: Give participants fixed options (Yes/No, or a scale of 1-10). These are easy to turn into quantitative data.
• Open questions: Allow participants to write freely. These provide qualitative data and more depth.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Leading Questions: Avoid questions that push the participant toward a certain answer. Instead of "Don't you agree that social media ruins friendships?", ask "To what extent do you feel social media impacts your friendships?"
2. Too Small a Sample: Remember, the IB requires at least \(10\) participants. If you have fewer, your results won't be considered credible for the practical.
3. Causality: Be careful! Surveys can show correlations (links) between things, but they rarely prove causality. Just because people who use Instagram more say they are lonelier, doesn't mean Instagram caused the loneliness.

Quick Review: Paper 2 Section A

In Paper 2, you will face compulsory questions about these practicals. You might be asked to:
• Describe the survey method in the context of human relationships.
• Explain a sampling technique used in your practical.
• Discuss an ethical consideration or a limitation (like bias) related to your survey. Key Takeaway: The survey/questionnaire is the "voice" of the participant. In the context of human relationships, it allows us to measure the invisible—feelings, thoughts, and social dynamics—provided we are careful about bias and measurement.