Social Desirability, Environmental Attitudes, and General Ecological Behaviour in Children

Abstract

Socially desirable responses have been widely discussed as potentially biasing self-reported measures of environmental attitude and behaviour assessment. The direct and moderating effect of social desirability on children has not been analysed before. By applying a Lie scale together with a two-factor environmental attitude set measure and a scale of self-reported General Ecological Behaviour (GEB) to 198 pupils, we found a moderate impact of Lie scores on only one of both attitude measures and a small impact on GEB. In a multiple regression analysis general behaviour was predicted by attitude, social desirability, and the interaction of both. Social desirability had no moderating effect on the relationship between environmental attitudes and behaviour. Implications of these outcomes for research on environmental issues with children are discussed. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden.The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Socially desirable responses have been widely discussed as potentially biasing self-reported measures of environmental attitude and behaviour assessment. The direct and moderating effect of social desirability on children has not been analysed before. By applying a Lie scale together with a two-factor environmental attitude set measure and a scale of self-reported General Ecological Behaviour (GEB) to 198 pupils, we found a moderate impact of Lie scores on only one of both attitude measures and a small impact on GEB. In a multiple regression analysis general behaviour was predicted by attitude, social desirability, and the interaction of both. Social desirability had no moderating effect on the relationship between environmental attitudes and behaviour. Implications of these outcomes for research on environmental issues with children are discussed.

The green halo: Mechanisms and limits of the eco-label effect

“…This hypothesis received no support from Experiments 2 and 3. Taken together, it is unlikely that the eco-label effect is simply due to reporting preference for eco-labeled products because it is regarded as socially desirable to do so (Félonneau & Becker, 2008;Oerke & Bogner, 2013). The lack of support for a social desirability account of the eco-label effect is consistent with other evidence reported previously wherein the social desirability account was addressed by experimental manipulations (Sörqvist et al, 2013) as opposed to the correlational means used here.…”

“…One factor that may question the validity of the eco-label effect as reflecting real differences in sensory perception and/or the participants' ''true views'' is social desirability (i.e., people's tendency to behave in ways that are approved by others). Indeed, to prefer eco-labeled products is regarded as socially desirable by society (Félonneau & Becker, 2008;Oerke & Bogner, 2013) and therefore it is reasonable to suspect that the eco-label effect is, at least in part, a consequence of social desirability (more specifically a consequence of impression management, a deceptive attempt to appear as if one holds attitudes and behaviors that are approved by others, upon making the product estimates). One way to test this hypothesis is to request participants to fill in a social desirability scale (Rudmin, 1999) that is designed to identify participants who respond in a socially desirable, but untruthful, way.…”

Children’s Restorative Experiences and Self-Reported Environmental Behaviors

“…Hartig et al (2001) found that, for adults, social desirability predicted reported ecological behavior, but the predictive power of restoration was not reduced when social desirability was included in the analysis. Similarly, Oerke and Bogner (2013) found, in a group of adolescents, that social desirability did not moderate the relation between environmental attitudes and self-reported behavior. Nevertheless, the potential risk of social desirability should be considered in future studies, and a social desirability measure, such as the Children's Social Desirability questionnaire (Crandall, Crandall, & Katkovsky, 1965), could be included when designing studies on children.…”

Five Degrees of Happiness

“…We have already mentioned social desirability bias, where children may not accurately respond regarding socially desirable characteristics in order to appear more appealing to researchers [23]. Specifically for evaluation, this translates to children not wanting to tell an adult that the system they have built is not great.…”