What type of data collection primarily allows fixed response answers?

The correct answer is rooted in the nature of data collection methods and the types of responses they elicit. Self-reports and questionnaires are specifically designed to gather fixed responses, which often include multiple-choice answers, ratings, or Likert scales. This structured format facilitates quantitative analysis, allowing for easier comparison and statistical evaluation of data across a larger sample.

Self-reports consist of items with predetermined options, enabling respondents to choose their answers from these fixed selections. This method is effective for collecting specific information about attitudes, beliefs, preferences, or experiences in a standardized manner.

In contrast, qualitative interviews and focus groups involve open-ended discussions that encourage participants to express their thoughts in their own words, resulting in richer, more detailed, but less structured data. Similarly, open-ended surveys invite respondents to provide answers without restrictions. While these methods capture depth and nuance, they do not yield the fixed responses characteristic of self-reports and questionnaires.