and Fekken (1989) reported that the MCSDS score correlated .27 with the Personality Research Form Desirability
Scale scores ( Jackson, 1984 ) and .26 with the Edwards’ Social Desirability Scale (1957) scores.
Divergent/Discriminant
Although the MCSDS loads on a general factor of social desirability, when multiple desirability factors are
extracted, the MCSDS shows stronger associations with impression management scales than with other social
desirability scales not explicitly constructed to measure impression management ( Helmes & Holden, 2003 ).
Construct/Factor Analytic
Whereas Seol (2007) found evidence for a single dimension, Ventimiglia and MacDonald (2012) reported mod-
erate fit for either a one-factor or two-factor (impression management and self-deception) model, while Holden
and Fekken (1989) supported a five-factor (considerateness, endurance, patience, integrity, and adherence to
social norms) model for the structure underlying the MCSDS items. Different theoretical models and factor ana-
lytic methods in these studies preclude any strong conclusions about the structure of the MCSDS.
Location
Crowne, D.P., & Marlowe, D.A. (1960). A new scale of social desirability independent of psychopathology.
Journal of Consulting Psychology, 24, 349/C0354.
Results and Comments
The MCSDS norms and recommended item selection procedures have changed over time and are less applica-
ble today than originally. These factors may also underlie the lack of consensus in the literature as to the internal
structure of the MCSDS.
Personality Research Form E /C0Desirability Scale (PRF Desirability)
(Jackson, 1984 ).
Variable
The PRF Desirability scale assesses the tendency to describe oneself using terms judged as socially desirable.
This tendency may be conscious or unconscious, accurate or inaccurate.
Description
The PRF Desirability scale comprises 16 true/false items of the larger 352-item Personality Research Form E
constructed by Douglas N. Jackson (1984) . From a large pool of items for which judged desirability values were
available, a subset of items were selected and screened in order to avoid psychopathological reference and con-
tent homogeneity. Items were then chosen using item-total correlations based on the self-report responses for a
scale development sample. The end result is an internally consistent, content heterogeneous index of the ten-
dency to present a positive picture of the self in answering personality statements. The scale takes 3 to 5 minutes
to complete, and requires a 6th grade reading level. Scoring of the scale is a simple task. All items are scored
dichotomously (0 or 1) and half of the 16 items are negatively keyed.
Sample
Normative data on the PRF Desirability scale are provided in the test manual ( Jackson, 1984 ) for college
students ( N52765), juvenile offenders ( N5341), psychiatric patients ( N583), and military personnel ( N53988).
Reliability
Internal Consistency
In the PRF manual ( Jackson, 1984 ), Desirability scale score split-half reliabilities were reported as .68 for college
students and .52 for psychiatric patients. For college students, Desirability scale Cronbach alpha coefficients
have been reported as follows: .73 ( Fekken & Holden, 1989 ), .61 ( Helmes & Holden, 2003 ), and .68 ( Holden &
Passey, 2010 ).25 OVERVIEW OF THE MEASURES
I. INTRODUCTION: CORE ISSUES IN ASSESSMENT