Social desirability and behavior rating scales: An exploratory study with the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18

Abstract

AbstractThis study investigated the relationship between the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18 (CBCL/4–18) and two modified measures of social desirability, the Marlowe‐Crowne Social Desirability Scale and the Edwards Social Desirability Scale with a sample of 65 parents of normal children from grades K–7. Results from correlational and multiple regression analyses showed that the Aggressive Behaviors and Attention Problems cross‐informant syndromes were modestly associated with social desirability scale scores. The relevance of findings are discussed in terms of the susceptibility of behavior rating scales to the self‐deception and other‐deception factors of social desirability [Paulhus, D.L. (1984). In: J.P. Robinson et al., (eds.) Measures of social psychological attitudes. (pp. 17–59). San Diego: Academic Press.] and fake‐good response sets. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 225–235, 2003.