The Social Desirability Effect Refers to

question 33

Multiple Choice

The social desirability effect refers to

• A) the bias in surveys that comes from the repeated failure of pollsters to interview respondents who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
• B) the strong desire that people have to express their opinions to survey researchers.
• C) the fact that respondents report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear or whatever they think is socially acceptable rather than what they actually believe or know to be true.
• D) the impression conveyed by polls that something is important to the public when actually it is not.
• E) the tendency for people to shift their electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner.

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Definitions:

Left Hemisphere

The left side of the brain, responsible for controlling the right side of the body and functions such as speech and analytical thinking.

Positive Emotions

Emotions that are experienced as pleasant or desirable, such as joy, gratitude, love, and happiness.

Polygraph

A polygraph, commonly known as a lie detector test, measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions.

Innocent People

Individuals who are not guilty of a crime or wrongdoing for which they may be accused or suspected.