Social Desirability

Social desirability refers to the tendency of people to respond to questions or behave in a way they believe will be viewed favorably by others. When it comes to general knowledge, individuals may overstate their understanding or give answers that align with what they think is the "right" or acceptable response, rather than expressing their true thoughts or knowledge. This bias can affect survey results and research data, as it may not accurately reflect people's actual beliefs or knowledge. Understanding this concept is crucial for interpreting responses in studies involving human behavior or attitudes.