Using Over-Claiming Technique to probe social desirability ratings of personality items: A validity examination. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kam, Chester; Risavy, Stephen D.; Perunovic, W.Q. Elaine
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 74(2015)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 181
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Over-Claiming Technique (OCT) -- Personality -- Social desirability; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2014.10.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Highlights: Assessments often exclude items that correlate strongly with social desirability. The Over-Claiming Technique (OCT) is one method used to assess social desirability. This research shows that item desirability gauged with the OCT has weak validity. Overall, the OCT may not measure conscious bias in self-report surveys. Therefore, other methods for assessing social desirability may be more appropriate. Abstract: During personality inventory construction, researchers often exclude items that correlate strongly with a social desirability measure. The validity of this practice, however, may vary depending on the choice of social desirability measure and this concern has not been thoroughly evaluated. To redress this methodological gap, the current research examines the validity of using the Over-Claiming Technique (OCT; Paulhus, Harms, Bruce, & Lysy, 2003) for probing item social desirability. Results indicate that item desirability values gauged with the OCT showed weak evidence for validity; they correlated negatively, rather than positively, with judges' direct ratings of personality item desirability. Therefore, a recommendation is developed against the usage of the OCT in gauging item desirability. Possible reasons for the weak validity evidence and future research directions are discussed.