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. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 30 items.
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 need for approval: 0 – 8
- Average need for approval: 9 – 18
- High need for approval: 19 – 30
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.73 – 0.88.
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.