Does Social Desirability Bias Distort Results on the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire or the Identity Style Inventory?

This study was designed to explore the potential effect of social desirability bias on two commonly used measures of identity. Participants (N = 80) completed the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ); the Identity Style Inventory, Revised (ISI3); and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale 2(10), a brief measure of social desirability. Results suggest that social desirability bias does not appear to pose a serious threat to the validity of identity research employing either the EIPQ or ISI3. There were no significant correlations between social desirability scores and scores on either of the identity measures. Concurrently, between-groups analyses revealed no significant differences in social desirability bias score by identity status or identity style.