Discuss the uses and limitations of self-report methods in psychology.

Self-report methods are commonly used in psychology research but have limitations.

Self-report methods are questionnaires or interviews where participants report their own thoughts, feelings or behaviours. These methods are used to gather subjective data about individuals' experiences. Self-report methods are useful as they are easy to administer and can collect a large amount of data in a short amount of time. They can also be used to study topics that are difficult to observe directly, such as emotions or thoughts.

However, self-report methods have limitations. Participants may not accurately report their thoughts, feelings or behaviours due to social desirability bias. Participants may also not fully understand the questions being asked, leading to inaccurate responses. Self-report methods may also be affected by memory biases, where participants may forget or distort past experiences. Additionally, self-report methods may not be suitable for certain populations, such as those with cognitive impairments or language barriers.

Overall, self-report methods are useful for gathering subjective data quickly and efficiently. However, researchers must be aware of the limitations and potential biases associated with these methods. It is important to use a variety of methods in research to triangulate data and increase the validity of findings.