Identify the forms of social desirability bias :

(A) Obeserver drift

(B) Impression management

(C) Psychosocial effect

(D) Self-deception positivity

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is - (B) and (D) Only

Key Points

• Impression management
  • It involves consciously manipulating one's behavior to create a favorable impression on others.
  • Individuals may provide socially desirable responses to appear more favorable in the eyes of the observer.
  • This can lead to over-reporting positive behaviors or under-reporting negative behaviors.
• Self-deception positivity
  • It involves individuals convincing themselves of false truths to maintain a positive self-image.
  • Unlike impression management, this bias is not deliberate but a genuine belief in one's own positive attributes.
  • It can result in inflated self-assessments and can skew self-reported data.

Additional Information

• Observer drift
  • This occurs when an observer's criteria for recording behaviors change over time, leading to inconsistent data.
  • It is not related to social desirability bias but rather a methodological error in observational studies.
• Psychosocial effect
  • This refers to the influence of social and psychological factors on an individual's behavior and mental state.
  • While psychosocial factors can impact responses, they are not specifically related to the concept of social desirability bias.