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Validation of a Short Form of the Marlowe-Crowne for Use with Law Enforcement Personnel

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Abstract

This study cross-validates a 13-question version of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale proposed by Reynolds (1982), using law enforcement professionals (n = 241). A rational is offered for the importance of scales of this nature being used to assess honesty, social desirability and self-deception. External validity indicators including concurrent measures of aggression and prejudice as well as prehire MMPI scales K and L on a subset of this sample (n = 70) are reviewed. Correlations between the 13-question version of the Marlowe-Crowne and external measures demonstrate robust effect sizes and statistical significance. Comparisons are also examined between officer scores and students from another cross-validation study of the 13-question short form of the Marlowe-Crowne (Zook & Sipps, 1984). Conclusions are made in consideration of the importance of honesty in law enforcement testing as well as the need for better means of accounting for variance due to social desirability in testing. Future directions for research are suggested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Virginia State University, 1 Hayden Drive, HM 102sb, Petersburg, VA, 23803, USA

    Byron Greenberg

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT, USA

    Peter Weiss

Authors
  1. Byron Greenberg
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  2. Peter Weiss
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Byron Greenberg.

Appendix

Appendix

Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale Short Form

Listed below are a number of statements concerning personal attitudes and traits. Read each item and decide whether the statement is true or false as it pertains to you personally.

  1. 1.

    It is sometimes hard to go on with my work if I am not encouraged.

  2. 2.

    I sometimes feel resentful when I don’t get my way.

  3. 3.

    On a few occasions, I have given up doing something because I thought too little of my ability.

  4. 4.

    There have been times when I felt like rebelling against people in authority even when I knew they were right.

  5. 5.

    No matter who I’m talking to, I’m always a good listener.

  6. 6.

    There have been occasions when I took advantage of someone.

  7. 7.

    I’m always willing to admit it when I make a mistake.

  8. 8.

    I sometimes try to get even rather than to forgive and forget.

  9. 9.

    I am always courteous, even to people who are disagreeable.

  10. 10.

    I have never been irked when people expressed ideas very different from my own.

  11. 11.

    There have been times when I was quite jealous of the good fortune of others.

  12. 12.

    I am sometimes irritated by people who ask favors of me.

  13. 13.

    I have never deliberately said something that hurt someone’s feelings.

Note: Items given a score when true: 5, 7, 9, 10, and 13.

Items given a score when false: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, and 12.

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Greenberg, B., Weiss, P. Validation of a Short Form of the Marlowe-Crowne for Use with Law Enforcement Personnel. J Police Crim Psych 27, 123–128 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-012-9100-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-012-9100-z

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