Selfreported

Self-reported data refers to information provided directly by individuals about themselves, typically through surveys, interviews, or questionnaires. It covers health status, symptoms, behaviors, demographics, and psychosocial factors, and is a common data source in epidemiology, psychology, and social science.

In health research, self-reported data assess conditions, functional status, quality of life, symptom severity, and health behaviors such as smoking or physical activity. In other fields, it informs opinions, consumer behavior, and experiences. Patient-reported outcomes are a formal category that centers on the patient’s perspective of health and treatment impact.

Benefits of self-reported data include the ability to capture subjective experiences and personal perceptions that are not readily observable, along with relatively low cost and feasibility for large samples. They can provide timely insights into how individuals feel and function in real-world settings.

Limitations involve biases such as recall bias, social desirability bias, and misreporting, as well as misunderstandings of questions or varying health literacy. Data quality can be affected by the mode of administration, framing of questions, and cultural or linguistic differences. Reliability and validity depend on the design and validation of the instruments used.

To improve accuracy, researchers employ validated questionnaires, standardized items, clear time frames, and anonymous or confidential responses. Triangulation with objective data and careful sampling can also enhance interpretability. Ethical considerations include informed consent and safeguarding respondent privacy.