Socially Desirable Response Set (SDRS-5)

Abstract

The Socially Desirable Response Set (SDRS-5) is a brief, five-item psychometric measure developed by Hays, Hayashi, and Stewart in 1989. Its primary function is to identify the tendency of survey respondents to exhibit a social desirability bias, often referred to as a response set. This bias involves responding to questions in a manner that presents the individual in a favorable light, conforming to social norms rather than accurately reflecting true attitudes or behaviors. The SDRS-5 is highly valued in research settings, particularly large-scale health and social surveys, for its efficiency and ease of integration as a control variable to mitigate measurement error.

Keywords

Social desirability, response set, faking good, impression management, measurement error, short scale, psychometrics, Hays, Hayashi, Stewart.

Authors

Robert D. Hays, Toshihiko Hayashi, Anita L. Stewart.

Purpose

The fundamental purpose of the SDRS-5 is to serve as an efficient screening tool for response bias in self-report data. In psychological and health research, where accurate reporting is crucial, the scale helps researchers quantify the degree to which a respondent is motivated by the desire to appear socially acceptable. By identifying this pattern, researchers can statistically control for the influence of social desirability, thereby improving the validity and interpretation of substantive findings derived from other measures administered simultaneously. Its brevity makes it ideal for inclusion in lengthy surveys where respondent burden is a concern.

Construct

The SDRS-5 measures the construct of the Socially Desirable Response Set. This construct encompasses the systematic tendency to answer questions in a manner that is perceived as virtuous, moral, or culturally appropriate, even if those answers are untrue. While related to general personality traits like conscientiousness, the response set is distinct in that it represents a methodological artifact—a type of systematic error in measurement. This error is often conceptualized as comprising two facets: impression management (conscious deception aimed at external audiences) and self-deception enhancement (unconscious, biased self-reporting). As a short scale, the SDRS-5 primarily captures a global measure of this tendency.

Validity

Validity evidence for the SDRS-5 is typically established through its correlation with longer, established measures of social desirability, such as the Crowne-Marlowe Social Desirability Scale (CM SDS), which is highly cited in the literature concerning this construct. Studies have demonstrated satisfactory convergent validity, showing that higher scores on the SDRS-5 are associated with higher scores on comprehensive social desirability instruments. Furthermore, predictive validity is evidenced by the scale’s ability to predict systematic underreporting of socially undesirable behaviors (e.g., substance abuse) and overreporting of socially desirable behaviors (e.g., altruism or perfect health habits) in large survey datasets.

Reliability

Due to its highly concise nature (only five items), achieving very high levels of internal consistency (e.g., high Cronbach’s alpha) can be challenging, but the SDRS-5 is designed to maximize reliability within the constraint of brevity. Hays et al. (1989) reported acceptable levels of internal consistency for a measure of this length, indicating that the items generally cohere to measure a single underlying dimension. The scale is intended for use in large aggregate samples where reliability concerns are often balanced against the need for efficient measurement and minimal respondent fatigue.

Factor Analysis

The SDRS-5 is generally treated as a unidimensional scale. Factor analyses conducted during its development and subsequent validation typically confirm that all five items load onto a single factor representing the tendency toward socially desirable responding. This strong unidimensional structure supports the scale’s use as a straightforward index score, allowing researchers to calculate a single, easily interpretable measure of response bias for use in statistical modeling and correction procedures.

Instrument

Test Type: Brief self-report measure / Screening tool for response bias

Format: 5-item inventory utilizing a 5-point Likert scale response format.

Language Available: Primarily English, though translations may exist for use in cross-cultural health studies.

Population Group: General adult population (often utilized in epidemiological and health research surveys).

Age Group: Adults (typically 18 years and older).

Population Details: Originally developed using data from the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) and subsequent general population health surveys, making it relevant for diverse demographic groups.

Test Methodology: Respondents select one of five options ranging from “Definitely True” to “Definitely False.” Items 1 and 5 are reverse scored. A summed or averaged total score indicates the level of socially desirable responding, with higher scores suggesting a greater tendency toward bias.

Keywords

Social desirability index, response bias correction, survey methodology, health surveys, self-report validation.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided in source material). The scale is often associated with the RAND Corporation, where the authors conducted much of their health research.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The SDRS-5 was published in 1989 by Hays, Hayashi, & Stewart. Given its brief nature and inclusion in widely disseminated health survey instruments like those used by RAND Corporation, the scale is generally considered to be in the public domain for non-commercial research purposes. Researchers should always confirm usage rights, though the measure is often freely accessible for research use. The instrument can be found via the RAND Corporation website, confirming its public availability for research applications. The direct link to the instrument resource is: http://www.rand.org/health/surveys_tools/sdrs.html.

Reference’s

The SDRS-5 is grounded in the foundational work on social desirability and validated against existing measures. Key references include:

• Crowne, D. P., & Marlowe, D. (1960). A new scale of social desirability independent of psychopathology. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 24, 349-354.
• Hays, R.D., Hayashi, T., & Stewart, A.L. (1989). A five-item measure of socially desirable response set. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 49(3), 629-636.
• Reynolds, C. R. (1982). Convergent and divergent validity of the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 42, 1205-1212.

Items of the Socially Desirable Response Set (SDRS-5)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Hays‚ Hayashi & Stewart‚ 1989

1. I am always courteous even to people who are disagreeable.
2. There have been occasions when I took advantage of someone.
3. I sometimes try to get even rather than to forgive and forget.
4. I sometimes feel resentful when I don’t get my way.
5. No matter who I’m talking to‚ I’m always a good listener.

Response Scale: 1 = Definitely True‚ 2 = Mostly True‚ 3 = Don’t Know‚ 4 = Mostly False‚ 5 = Definitely False

Scoring Note: Items one and five are reverse scored.