Essays on Social Desirability Bias

Physical Activity and Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome, defined as a constellation of risk factors that include dyslipidemia, abnormal glucose tolerance, increased adiposity, and hypertension, has been linked with type 2 diabetes (Liu et al., 2006). The prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is disproportionately higher and increasingly rapid amongst Aboriginal Canadians than among the non-Aboriginal Canadian population and has reached what some consider as “epidemic proportions” (Ghosh & Gomes, 2011; Sharp, 2009). Diabetes results from an interaction of a host of risk factors. This paper will review a study by Liu et al. (2006) that investigates the etiology of metabolic syndrome which is ...

Social desirability bias is a factor which could affect the results of any research study which involves methods of self-reporting by participants. Human beings have an inbuilt desire to portray themselves in the most positive light possible. Sometimes they are unaware of this tendency altogether and do not realise they are being dishonest in their answers. At other times, people are aware and deliberately respond in a way they believe to be socially favourable. Furthermore, social desirability bias can apply to everyday life, in addition to research studies.

According to Anton J. Nederhof (2006), “Social desirability is one of the most ...

Explanation/ definition social desirability bias

Researchers have been employed by the university to collect data and information from post graduate students of a diverse nature. The data collected it to detail how much time this group spends on academic work. Furthermore, it is to establish what they do during such a time. The study by the researches would be affected in a way that the results would not be accurate. This would be because of social desirability bias. Social desirability bias can be detailed as a situation during the research process whereby the respondents try to give responses or answers that they deem to be socially accepted ...

Stoeber (2001) has noted in the European Journal of Psychological Assessment that social desirability bias is when people respond to interview questions in ways that will be viewed favourably by others. Usually it occurs when an individual under reports a bad behaviour or over reports a good behaviour. In these instances, the social desirability bias poses a big problem to researchers who rely on self-reports, and more so for the researchers who depend solely on questionnaires. When individuals realize that they are being watched or are being observed, they will tend to act in ways that are socially acceptable and socially ...