An English List of Personality Items With Social Desirability and Observability Ratings

Abstract: Desirability and observability are crucial factors that can influence the validity of personality measurement. The current research aims to provide the desirability and observability ratings of close to 800 personality items. We found that the most desirable dimensions were conscientiousness and agreeableness. The least desirable dimensions were extraversion and openness. In terms of observability, extraversion and agreeableness were the most observable dimensions, whereas openness and honesty-humility were the least observable. Item length and scale type also influenced the two characteristics, with shorter personality items and scales using adjectives and adverbs as items showing higher desirability and observability. We observed significant variation in desirability across personality scales, with certain scales possibly being more prone to social desirability responding than others. The rating list, with its desirability and observability ratings, can be an invaluable resource for users of personality scales: helping those researchers to select suitable items or scales for specific research needs. Finally, we found that developing items with more detailed content and avoiding the use of adjectives and adverbs as personality items may help reduce desirability bias.