Essay

In their validation of the Need for Cognition Scale, John Cacioppo and Richard Petty (1982) compared participants' scores against three other established variables. Identify these three established variables and recall the definition of 'socially desirable responding' as described in their study context.

Question: In their validation of the Need for Cognition Scale, John Cacioppo and Richard Petty (1982) compared participants' scores against three other established variables. Identify these three established variables and recall the definition of 'socially desirable responding' as described in their study context.

Sample answer: Cacioppo and Petty measured the Need for Cognition Scale alongside three established variables: intelligence, socially desirable responding, and dogmatism. In this context, socially desirable responding is defined as the tendency of participants to give responses that they think are 'appropriate' or socially acceptable rather than their true, honest responses.

Key points:

  • Intelligence
  • Socially desirable responding
  • Dogmatism
  • Socially desirable responding is the tendency to give appropriate or expected answers

Rubric: To receive full credit, the student must list all three variables: intelligence, socially desirable responding, and dogmatism. Additionally, the student must accurately define socially desirable responding as the tendency to give what one thinks is the appropriate or expected response.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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KPU

Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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