Final answer:
The chief reason to use an online self-report inventory is that it can be completed autonomously. These inventories provide a cost-effective way to collect both quantitative and qualitative data, despite potential biases in responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main reason for administering an online self-report inventory is b) It can be completed without human intervention. This type of inventory allows individuals to self-report their thoughts, experiences, and feelings.
Self-report inventories, such as Likert scales, offer a format for respondents to express their attitudes or behaviors on a scale, typically from 'strongly disagree' to 'strongly agree'. These surveys are advantageous because they are cost-effective, can be widely distributed, and are easy to complete. The data collected is a combination of quantitative and qualitative information, providing a rich set of data despite the challenges with potential biases or the desire for socially desirable responses.
Although the ability for such inventories to provide objective and observable data is limited, they are different from projective tests, which aim to uncover unconscious processes. Self-report inventories offer insights into a person's perceptions of themselves, which can be a valuable tool for research and assessment purposes when interpreted correctly.