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The Nature of Social Desirability Response Effects in Ethics Research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2015

Maria F. Fernandes  and
Donna M. Randall
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Abstract

The study assesses how a social desirability (SD) bias influences the relationship between several independent and dependent variables commonly investigated in ethics research. The effect of a SD bias was observed when a questionnaire was administered under varying conditions of anonymity and with different measurement techniques for the SD construct. Findings reveal that a SD bias is present in the majority of relationships studied, and it most frequently plays a moderating role. While the measure of SD influences the strength and type of relationship, condition of anonymity has relatively little effect on the level of SD.

Type
Articles
Information
Business Ethics Quarterly , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , April 1992 , pp. 183 - 205
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Business Ethics 1992

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