How Valid is the Social Desirability Scale of Bem's Sex Role Inventory

Abstract

Extensive research has been carried out on Bern's Masculinity and Femininity scales, but little has been reported on the validity of the Social Desirability scale, so correlations were obtained for the Marlowe and Crowne Social Desirability Scale and Bern's scales, as well as a factor analysis of Bern's inventory, and mean sex differences for Bern's Social Desirability items. 478 first-year undergraduate students, aged 18 to 22 yr., 214 men and 264 women, were subjects. Correlations of Marlowe-Crowne scores were .42 with Bern's Social Desirability, .20 with Masculinity, and .13 with Femininity. Factor analysis of responses to Bern's inventory gave four factors: the social desirability items had high loadings, and no single social desirability factor was found that included the items of this scale in a representative number. Finally, nine of Bern's social desirability items were differentially endorsed by men and women. These results suggest that Bern's Social Desirability scale measures socially desirable characteristics, although the items do not form a cohesive scale and are not independent of sex.