Three short forms of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale were constructed from the results of principal components analysis (N = 399). Those subscales were compared with short forms developed by previous researchers who used the same methodology. Examination of the subscales indicated that 13 of the scale's 33 items were isolated by at least two of the three reported studies. Those items were used to construct a composite subscale, which appeared to offer a useful alternative to the full scale. Further analysis of the subscale's contents, however, raised questions about the dimensionality of the Marlowe-Crowne scale. Caution was urged in the use and interpretation of both the full inventory and the short form until the meaning of scale scores can be clarified.
The reported studies investigated two issues of importance to researchers and practitioners interested in the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, the sensitivity or social desirability of the individual items comprising the scale and the continued appropriateness of the original scoring scheme presented in 1960. Analysis indicates that over half of the items may no longer be sensitive enough to be useful. Also, it appears that the original keying may no longer be appropriate for a number of items. Finally, based on these findings, implications for the continued use of the Marlowe-Crowne Scale are discussed.
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