Selvrapporterede

Selvrapporterede refers to information provided directly by individuals about themselves, typically collected through self-administered or interviewer-administered formats such as questionnaires, interviews, or diaries. In research and survey work, selvoplyst data are contrasted with objective measurements (for example clinical tests or administrative records) and are widely used in health, psychology, sociology and market research.

Common applications include assessing symptoms and health status (such as pain, fatigue, or mood), health behaviours (smoking, alcohol use, diet, physical activity), and quality of life. In healthcare, patient-reported outcomes rely on self-reports to evaluate how illness or treatment affects a person’s daily functioning and well-being.

Selvrapporterte data offer several advantages: they are often cost-efficient and scalable, and they can capture subjective experiences, perceptions, and behaviours that are not directly observable. Limitations include recall bias, social desirability bias, misinterpretation of questions, literacy or language barriers, and varying respondent engagement. Data quality depends on the validity and reliability of the instruments used, as well as on response rates and missing data.

Best practices to improve reliability include using validated, culturally adapted instruments; pretesting questionnaires; keeping surveys concise; employing multiple items to measure complex constructs; and triangulating with objective data when possible. Transparent reporting should note potential biases and limitations, and analyses should account for missing data and measurement error.