ERIC Number: EJ1132230
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0146-3934
EISSN: N/A
An Examination of Social Desirability Bias in Measures of College Students' Financial Behavior
Kelly, Nicole; Harpel, Tammy; Fontes, Angela; Walters, Connor; Murphy, Jan
College Student Journal, v51 n1 p115-128 Spr 2017
This study investigated the role of socially desirable responding (SDR) in responses to survey questions about financial behavior among college students. Data was collected via an online survey from 1,159 students enrolled at a Midwestern university. Participants reported on credit card and savings behaviors and attitudes by answering direct questions (about their own behaviors) and indirect questions (scenarios about a typical other). Differences between the direct and indirect responses were examined for a relationship with a measure of socially desirable responding (SDR). Findings showed greater differences between direct and indirect reports of saving and spending behaviors were significantly related to higher scores on the measure of socially desirable responding. The results indicate that the use of indirect questioning can highlight and may reduce biased responses in future measures of financial behavior.
Descriptors: Social Desirability, College Students, Student Behavior, Money Management, Online Surveys, Credit (Finance), Vignettes, Deception, Response Style (Tests), Demography, Correlation, Predictor Variables, Attitude Measures, Likert Scales
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A