SelbstberichtFragebögen

Selbstbericht, or self-report, is a data collection method in which individuals provide information about their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It relies on respondents' memory, self-perception, and willingness to disclose. Widely used in psychology, medicine, sociology, and market research, Selbstbericht can be collected through questionnaires, scales, interviews, or diary methods and can target past experiences, current states, or anticipated behaviors.

Forms and formats include self-report questionnaires with Likert scales, checklists, and numeric rating scales; standardized instruments such as the Beck Depression Inventory or Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods that prompt real-time entries. Retrospective surveys collect information about past events, while EMA gathers data in the moment to reduce recall bias. Diaries and daily logs are common alternatives for longitudinal self-report data.

Applications span assessment of symptoms, attitudes, health-related quality of life, behaviors, and service needs. In clinical research, self-report instruments measure mood, pain, sleep, or functioning. In epidemiology, they estimate prevalence and risk factors. In consumer research, they capture customer satisfaction and perceived quality. The approach is often chosen for its efficiency and ability to gauge subjective experience directly from respondents.

Validity, limitations, and ethics: Self-reports can be affected by memory errors, social desirability bias, and misunderstanding of questions, limiting reliability and validity. Researchers mitigate these risks with validated instruments, standardized administration, mixed-method designs, and multiple data sources. Ethical considerations include informed consent, confidentiality, and transparent reporting of limitations. Mode of administration (online, paper, interview) can also influence responses.