Question

Tendency of the subject to agree with items irrespective of their content is called:

• A. Acquiescence
• B. Halo effect
• C. Social desirability
• D. Extreme response bias

Hint:

To avoid acquiescence bias in surveys, researchers often use a mix of positively and negatively worded items. This forces the respondent to read the items carefully instead of just agreeing with everything.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question addresses response biases, which are systematic tendencies to respond to test or survey items on some basis other than the specific content of the items.

Acquiescence: The tendency to agree with statements ("yea-saying") or disagree with statements ("nay-saying") regardless of their content.
Halo effect: A cognitive bias where the overall impression of a person influences the observer's feelings and thoughts about that person's specific traits.
Social desirability: The tendency to respond in a way that will be viewed favorably by others.
Extreme response bias: The tendency to only select the most extreme options on a rating scale (e.g., "strongly agree" or "strongly disagree").
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The definition provided in the question, "to agree with items irrespective of their content," is the precise definition of the acquiescence response bias. For example, a person with this bias might agree with both the statement "I am an outgoing person" and the statement "I prefer to spend time alone."
Step 3: Final Answer:
The tendency described is called Acquiescence.