Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale – MCSD
Measures individual differences in the tendency to present oneself in a socially desirable light and the need for social approval.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale – MCSD was developed by Douglas P. Crowne & David Marlowe (1960). It is designed to measure Social Desirability / Need for Approval. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 30 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Attribution, Denial.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Attribution | 1,2,4,7,8,13,16,17,18,20,21,24,25,26,27,29 | 16 |
| Denial | 3,5,6,9,10,11,12,14,15,19,22,23,28,30 | 14 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous True/False format.
The scale includes 14 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 30. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Social Desirability (Low need for approval): 0 – 8
- Average Social Desirability (Average need for approval): 9 – 19
- High Social Desirability (High need for approval): 20 – 30
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Alpha coefficients ranged from .73 to .88.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.