Question

Test developers use reverse coding of certain items in a scale to offset the effects of _________.

• A. Social desirability
• B. Acquiescence
• C. Faking
• D. Random responding

Hint:

Reverse coding helps mitigate acquiescence bias, ensuring that respondents thoughtfully consider both positive and negative items.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the question.
Reverse coding is a technique used in survey and test design to address certain biases in responding patterns. Acquiescence bias refers to the tendency of respondents to agree with statements regardless of their content.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (A) Incorrect, while social desirability bias can influence responses, reverse coding primarily targets acquiescence bias.
- (B) Correct, reverse coding is used to reduce acquiescence bias by requiring respondents to disagree with statements that are phrased in a way that encourages agreement.
- (C) Incorrect, while faking responses is a concern in some tests, reverse coding is not specifically used to address this.
- (D) Incorrect, random responding does not reflect a systematic pattern that reverse coding can address.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, the correct answer is (B) Acquiescence.