Social Desirability Response Bias and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale

Abstract

The reported studies investigated two issues of importance to researchers and practitioners interested in the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, the sensitivity or social desirability of the individual items comprising the scale and the continued appropriateness of the original scoring scheme presented in 1960. Analysis indicates that over half of the items may no longer be sensitive enough to be useful. Also, it appears that the original keying may no longer be appropriate for a number of items. Finally, based on these findings, implications for the continued use of the Marlowe-Crowne Scale are discussed.