Review of the Psychometric Properties of the Social Desirability Scale and the Development of a Short-Form

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Social Desirability Scale (SDS) and develop a short version, the SDS-BV. Using data from 3,855 participants in Puerto Rico, confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that while the SDS showed excellent incremental fit (CFI = .995, TLI = .994), its RMSEA values were weaker, highlighting potential areas for refinement. The SDS-BV consistently exhibited very strong fit across all indices (CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.00, SRMR = .012), underscoring its robustness and parsimony. Both scales achieved measurement invariance across demographic and organizational groups, confirming their equivalence for comparative research. High reliability coefficients (α ≥ .926) and significant correlations with related constructs support the validity of both scales. The SDS-BV, with fewer items and superior psychometric performance, emerges as a practical and reliable tool for assessing social desirability in diverse contexts. Findings highlight their relevance for psychological and organizational studies.