The Social Desirability Scale-17 (SDS-17)

Abstract

Summary: Four studies are presented investigating the convergent validity, discriminant validity, and relationship with age of the Social Desirability Scale-17 (SDS-17). As to convergent validity, SDS-17 scores showed correlations between .52 and .85 with other measures of social desirability (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Lie Scale, Sets of Four Scale, Marlowe-Crowne Scale). Moreover, scores were highly sensitive to social-desirability-provoking instructions (job-application instruction). Finally, with respect to the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, SDS-17 scores showed a unique correlation with impression management, but not with self-deception. As to discriminant validity, SDS-17 scores showed nonsignificant correlations with neuroticism, extraversion, psychoticism, and openness to experience, whereas there was some overlap with agreeableness and conscientiousness. With respect to relationship with age, the SDS-17 was administered in a sample stratified for age, with age ranging from 18 to 89 years. In all but the oldest age group, the SDS-17 showed substantial correlations with the Marlowe-Crowne Scale. The influence of age (cohort) on mean scores, however, was significantly smaller for the SDS-17 than for the Marlowe-Crowne Scale. In sum, results indicate that the SDS-17 is a reliable and valid measure of social desirability, suitable for adults of 18 to 80 years of age.

Chinese college students’ attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities: differences by study major, gender, contact, and knowledge

“…mean MRAI-R553 for Yazbeck et al, 2004). Although a more positive attitude toward inclusion of people with ID was found, it is possible that there may be biased opinions due to the effect of social desirability (Stober, 2001) and that is why many similar previous studies have examined this potential bias (Scior, 2011). Thus, it is recommended that future studies should include a measure of social desirability to assess the validity of participants' responses.…”

“…However, findings of the present survey could guide for constructing another more advanced study in future. Secondly, the responses by participants as to the attitudes toward inclusion of people with ID could be invalid due to social desirability effect (Stober, 2001).…”

Sex and age cohort differences in patterns of socioemotional functioning in older adults and their links to physical resilience

“…However, because negative emotions are related to symptom reporting tendencies (Leventhal & Patrick-Miller, 2000;Leventhal et al, 1998), it may be that participants from low negative emotion clusters appear more resilient because they do not report either health symptoms or interference with the activities of daily living--a demand effect. Greater demand or social desirability related to reports of better health (Brosschot & Janssen, 1998;Myers & Reynolds, 2000), has been linked to increasing age (Lawton, Whelihan, & Belsky, 1980;Lewinsohn et al, 1997;Strber, 2001), and is higher among women (C.J. Adams & Krasnoff, 1989;Bardwell & Dimsdale, 2001).…”

Ethnic-immigrant Disparities in Total and Abdominal Obesity in the US

“…25 Therefore, when comparing obesity prevalence rates across socio-demographic groups, objectively measured BMI is preferred. Similarly, the majority of studies on PA are based on self-reported activities that are inevitably subject to response bias owing to the respondent’s blurred memory or tendency to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others— labeled as “social desirability tendency.” 26 In the case of self-reported body weight the social desirability bias is manifested as over-reporting height and under-reporting weight and BMI 25 with greater prevalence observed in overweight or obese study participants. 27 …”