Scale Overview
The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale – M-C SDS was developed by Douglas P. Crowne, David Marlowe (1960). It is designed to measure Social Desirability. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 33 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous True/False format.
The scale includes 15 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 33. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low social desirability (low need for approval / high candor): 0 – 8
- Average social desirability: 9 – 19
- High social desirability (high need for approval / conforming response style): 20 – 33
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.88.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.