1. An examination of social desirability bias in measures of college students' financial behavior
- Author
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Kelly, Nicole, Harpel, Tammy, Fontes, Angela, Walters, Connor, and Murphy, Jan
- Subjects
Cognitive biases -- Economic aspects -- Social aspects ,College students -- Finance -- Behavior -- Social aspects ,Social desirability -- Psychological aspects -- Economic aspects ,Company financing ,Education - Abstract
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. KEYWORDS: Financial behavior, Indirect questions, Self-deception, Social desirability, Numerous studies have documented growth in habitual spending, use of loans, and credit card debt among Americans (Kennickel, Starr-McCluer, & Surette, 2000; Xiao, Tang, & Shim, 2008). Currently, many individuals [...]
- Published
- 2017