Subjective report
Encyclopedia
In experimental psychology
and medical science, a subjective report is information collected from an experimental subject's description of their own experiences, symptoms or histories. Subjective reporting is the act of an individual describing their own subjective experience, following their introspection
on physical or psychological effects under consideration. The method of subjective report analysis also encompasses obtaining information from a subject's own recollection, such as verbal case histories, or experiences in the individual's wider daily life.
s consisting of specific, response-constrained questions or Likert items
, the latter being used in quantitative and qualitative analyses. Whereas evidential, controlled methods of experimentation yield objective information on processes observable objectively by the experimenter — that is, the experimenter can observe the given effect externally through some experimental means, such as in problem-solving tasks
or laboratory tests — analysis via subjective report obtains the subject's own opinion on a particular task or subject under investigation and allows study of effects outside of the scope of controlled clinical analysis.
; studies of sexuality
(the best known of subjective report studies in this field being the Kinsey Reports
); pharmacological trials
of psychiatric
and analgesic
(pain relief) medication; and ethnography
, the study of cultures and cultural processes as part of social science. A 2003 experimental study by Coghill et al determined that subjective reports of pain
were capable of being correlated statistically to neuroimaging
data, verifying the reports as being, for the most part, sufficiently accurate for clinical purposes. Issues of veracity of subjective reports can, however, be a limiting factor in using them to draw experimental conclusions.
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
and medical science, a subjective report is information collected from an experimental subject's description of their own experiences, symptoms or histories. Subjective reporting is the act of an individual describing their own subjective experience, following their introspection
Introspection
Introspection is the self-observation and reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations. It is a conscious and purposive process relying on thinking, reasoning, and examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and, in more spiritual cases, one's soul...
on physical or psychological effects under consideration. The method of subjective report analysis also encompasses obtaining information from a subject's own recollection, such as verbal case histories, or experiences in the individual's wider daily life.
Investigative techniques
Collection of subjective reports consists simply of asking the subject to reflect on their own individual experience; subjective report techniques may vary from open-ended interviews to formal questionnaireQuestionnaire
A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. Although they are often designed for statistical analysis of the responses, this is not always the case...
s consisting of specific, response-constrained questions or Likert items
Likert scale
A Likert scale is a psychometric scale commonly involved in research that employs questionnaires. It is the most widely used approach to scaling responses in survey research, such that the term is often used interchangeably with rating scale, or more accurately the Likert-type scale, even though...
, the latter being used in quantitative and qualitative analyses. Whereas evidential, controlled methods of experimentation yield objective information on processes observable objectively by the experimenter — that is, the experimenter can observe the given effect externally through some experimental means, such as in problem-solving tasks
Problem solving
Problem solving is a mental process and is part of the larger problem process that includes problem finding and problem shaping. Consideredthe most complex of all intellectual functions, problem solving has been defined as higher-order cognitive process that requires the modulation and control of...
or laboratory tests — analysis via subjective report obtains the subject's own opinion on a particular task or subject under investigation and allows study of effects outside of the scope of controlled clinical analysis.
Applications of subjective report analysis
Fields that rely heavily on subjective report include social psychologySocial psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
; studies of sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
(the best known of subjective report studies in this field being the Kinsey Reports
Kinsey Reports
The Kinsey Reports are two books on human sexual behavior, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female , by Dr. Alfred Kinsey, Wardell Pomeroy and others and published by Saunders...
); pharmacological trials
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
of psychiatric
Psychiatric medication
A psychiatric medication is a licensed psychoactive drug taken to exert an effect on the mental state and used to treat mental disorders. Usually prescribed in psychiatric settings, these medications are typically made of synthetic chemical compounds, although some are naturally occurring, or at...
and analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
(pain relief) medication; and ethnography
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
, the study of cultures and cultural processes as part of social science. A 2003 experimental study by Coghill et al determined that subjective reports of pain
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
were capable of being correlated statistically to neuroimaging
Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging includes the use of various techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure, function/pharmacology of the brain...
data, verifying the reports as being, for the most part, sufficiently accurate for clinical purposes. Issues of veracity of subjective reports can, however, be a limiting factor in using them to draw experimental conclusions.