Marlow-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (Short Form)
11 items on socially desirable responding
Ever catch yourself picking the answer that sounds best, even if it is not quite true? The Marlow-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (short form) uses 13 true/false items to measure how much you tend to present yourself in a favorable light. About 2 minutes, 13 items.
Are you answering honestly — or just looking good?
The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS) measures the tendency to present yourself in an overly favorable light — to answer questions in a way that makes you look good rather than truthful.
What social desirability means
- Presenting yourself as more virtuous than you are
- Denying common flaws and weaknesses
- Conforming to social norms in your answers
- Saying what you think you "should" say
About this scale
Douglas Crowne and David Marlowe developed the MCSDS in 1960. It's a common way to catch response bias in self-report studies.
The MCSDS serves two purposes: 1. Research — identifying participants who may be responding dishonestly 2. Clinical — understanding how much someone's self-presentation affects their test results
High social desirability doesn't mean you're lying — it means you may have a strong need for approval. This can affect the accuracy of self-report measures.
This assessment helps you understand your tendency toward socially desirable responding. It helps you notice how you tend to answer.
Result Interpretation
After completing the 11 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.