Sample
Normative data for the BIDR-7 are provided in the manual ( Paulhus, 1998 ) for separate populations of the gen-
eral public ( N5441 urban and rural Americans and Canadians between 21 and 75 years of age), college students
(N5289 Americans and Canadians), incarcerated offenders ( N5603 Canadian incarcerated offenders), and
military personnel ( N5124 American navy recruits).
Reliability
Internal Consistency
The BIDR-7 manual ( Paulhus, 1998 ) reported Cronbach alpha coefficients for the normative sample ranging
from .70 (college students) to .75 (general public) for the SDE score and from .81 (college students) to .84 (general
public) for the IM scale score. Vispoel and Tao (2013) used the older BIDR-6 to evaluate the elements affecting
BIDR scores using generalizability analysis over a 1-week interval. They reported transient errors accounting for
3% to 6% of BIDR scores, with random response effects accounting for larger proportions of variance.
Generalizability coefficients were higher for polytomous than dichotomous scoring.
Test/C0Retest
Paulhus (1991) reported 5-week test /C0retest reliability coefficients of .69 and .65 for the SDE and IM scale
scores, respectively. For the SDE and IM scale scores, Lonnqvist et al. (2007) reported 3-year stability coefficients
of .44 and .68, respectively, and 2-year stability coefficients of .71 and .68, respectively. Crutzen and Goritz (2010)
reported a 5-month test /C0retest reliability coefficient of .74 for the IM scale score. Vispoel and Tao (2013) reported
test/C0retest reliability coefficients of .78 and .83 for dichotomous and polytomous scoring of SDE scale, as well as
.83 and .86 for the IM scale, over a one-week interval.
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
Paulhus (1998) reported positive correlations for the SDE scale with the Edwards Social Desirability Scale
(Edwards, 1957 ) and the Desirability scale of Jackson’s (1984) Personality Research Form as providing evidence for
convergent validity. Barchard (2002) reported that the SDE scale correlates positively (.24) with a Positive
Expressivity Scale (PES). In regard to the IM scale, its positive correlations with the Marlowe Crowne Social
Desirability Scale (Crowne & Marlowe, 1960 ) support its convergent validity.
Divergent/Discriminant
Barchard (2002) reported that the SDE scale correlated /C0.02 with a Negative Expressivity Scale (NES), while
the IM scale correlated .08 with the PES, and /C0.15 with the NES. Also, as evidence for discriminant validity,
Paulhus (1998) pointed to the factor analyses in the manual with the IM and SDE scales loading on different fac-
tors and to his Study 8 in which both IM and SDE scales showed neutral values on a 7-point rating scale, in con-
trast to measures of adjustment, which were rated significantly higher.
Construct/Factor Analytic
A principal component analysis of the two BIDR-7 scales using a sample of 320 undergraduates in conjunction
with other measures of socially desirable responding supports the distinction to be drawn between the SDE and
IM scales since the SDE and IM scales are loaded by distinct components ( Paulhus, 1998 ). Furthermore, at the
item level, factor analytic evidence confirms the structural integrity of the BIDR item scoring ( Holden, Starzyk,
McLeod, & Edwards, 2000 ).
Criterion/Predictive
Evidence in Paulhus (1998) for the predictive validity of the IM scale score is its responsiveness to naturally
occurring and experimentally induced demands for impression management. However, Pauls and Crost (2004)
concluded that the BIDR-7 itself is not immune to faking and provides little diagnostic information regarding fak-
ing beyond what can be gained from faking scales on standard personality questionnaires.
Location
Paulhus, D.L. (1998). Paulhus Deception Scales (PDS): The Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding /C07. North
Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems, Inc.23 OVERVIEW OF THE MEASURES
I. INTRODUCTION: CORE ISSUES IN ASSESSMENT