Social desirability bias is a type of response bias that occurs when people answer questions in a way that will be viewed favorably by others. This means that they may give answers that they think are more socially acceptable, rather than giving honest and accurate answers. Social desirability bias can affect the results of surveys, experiments, and other research methods that rely on self-reported information.
Social desirability bias can have a variety of causes, including a desire to fit in with others, a fear of being judged, and a lack of self-awareness. It can also be influenced by the way that questions are asked, so if a question is worded in a way that suggests a certain answer, people may be more likely to give that answer. To avoid social desirability bias, it is important to use research methods that minimize the influence of this bias, such as anonymous surveys or experiments that use objective measures.
