What is the tendency to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others?

• A. Qualitative Research
• B. Social Desirability Bias
• C. Survey Design
• D. Quantitative Research

Answer: (B)

Social desirability bias is the tendency to answer questions in ways that will be viewed favorably by others. People do this when they want to appear socially acceptable or present themselves in a positive light, so they overreport good behaviors and underreport those seen as undesirable. This bias can distort self-report data in surveys and interviews because responses are influenced by judgments about what is acceptable or admirable, not just by what is true. It’s distinct from the broader ideas of qualitative or quantitative research, which describe data collection approaches, and from survey design, which concerns how questions are phrased and structured rather than the tendency to respond in a socially approved way.