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Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale
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About Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale
Scale Name
Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale
Author Details
Douglas Crowne and David Marlowe
Translation Availability
Background/Description
Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale was developed in 1964 by Douglas Crowne and David Marlowe in response to the growing understanding of social desirability bias in self-report measures. This bias refers to the tendency of individuals to present themselves in a positive light, even if it means distorting the truth. Crowne and Marlowe recognized that this bias could significantly affect the validity of research findings based on self-report data.
The primary purpose of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale was to create a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring social desirability bias. This meant developing a scale that was:
- Reliable: Consistent results are obtained when the scale is administered to the same individuals on different occasions.
- Valid: The scale accurately measures what it is intended to measure.
- Independent of psychopathology: The scale does not simply reflect underlying mental health issues.
Crowne and Marlowe carefully selected items for the MCSDS that met the following criteria:
- Culturally acceptable: The items were statements that most people would generally agree with.
- Unlikely to occur: The items were statements that most people would not actually endorse in their own lives.
- Minimal abnormal implications: The items did not have strong associations with specific mental health diagnoses.
The final version of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale consists of 33 true-false items. Individuals who score high on the scale are more likely to be motivated to present themselves in a positive light, while individuals who score low are more likely to be honest and self-aware.
The MCSDS has had a significant impact on psychological research. It is one of the most widely used measures of social desirability bias, and it has been cited in thousands of research articles. The scale has helped researchers to better understand the factors that influence self-report data and to develop more accurate and reliable measures of psychological constructs.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Preparation: Ensure the environment is quiet and free from distractions. Explain the purpose of the scale and assure participants of anonymity and confidentiality.
- Distribution: Provide each participant with a copy of the MCSDS and a scoring sheet.
- Instructions: Read the instructions given on the questionnaire aloud. Explain each item clearly if needed.
- Response: Allow participants sufficient time to complete the questionnaire, usually 10-15 minutes. Ensure they understand each item and answer truthfully.
- Collection: Collect all questionnaires and scoring sheets once completed.
Reliability and Validity
The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale has been extensively researched and has demonstrated both good reliability and validity. Here’s a breakdown of its strengths and weaknesses in these areas:
- Internal consistency: The MCSDS has high internal consistency, meaning the items measure the same underlying concept (social desirability) consistently. Alpha coefficients typically range from 0.80 to 0.90 across diverse populations.
- Test-retest reliability: The scale shows moderate test-retest reliability, indicating that scores remain relatively stable over time. Correlations between scores obtained across different administrations range from 0.50 to 0.80.
- Inter-rater reliability: The MCSDS is not typically used with multiple raters, as it is a self-report measure. However, studies using similar social desirability scales have shown good inter-rater reliability.
- Content validity: The items on the MCSDS appear to be relevant and representative of the concept of social desirability.
- Criterion validity: The MCSDS correlates significantly with other measures of social desirability and self-deception.
- Construct validity: Factor analyses have confirmed the single-factor structure of the MCSDS, indicating that it measures a single underlying construct.
- Discriminant validity: The MCSDS shows moderate correlations with measures of personality traits like extraversion and neuroticism, suggesting it can distinguish between social desirability and other personality dimensions.
Available Versions
33-Items
11-Items
Reference
Strahan, R., & Gerbasi, K. C. (1972). Short, homogeneous versions of the Marlowe-Crowne social desirability scale. Journal of clinical psychology.
Ballard, R. (1992). Short forms of the Marlowe-Crowne social desirability scale. Psychological reports, 71(3_suppl), 1155-1160.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale?
A: The MCSDS is a self-report questionnaire that measures an individual’s tendency to present themselves in a positive light, even if it means exaggerating or distorting the truth.
Q: What does it measure?
A: The MCSDS measures social desirability bias, which can affect the validity of self-report measures in research settings.
Q: How is it administered?
A: The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale is a self-report questionnaire with 33 true-false items. Individuals are instructed to answer honestly based on their own beliefs and behaviors.
Q: How is it scored?
A: Each item is scored 1 for “true” and 0 for “false.” Scores are then summed, with higher scores indicating a greater tendency towards socially desirable responding.
Q: Is it reliable and valid?
A: Yes, the MCSDS has been shown to be both reliable and valid. It has high internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and content validity. Additionally, it correlates with other measures of social desirability and self-deception.
Q: Are there any limitations?
A: The MCSDS may not capture all aspects of social desirability bias, and individuals may try to “fake good” by deliberately scoring low. Additionally, the content may be biased towards certain cultures or groups.
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