PDS

Paulhus Deception Scales

Measures the tendency to give socially desirable responses

D. L. Paulhus, Ph.D. 40 items, Self-report Ages 16 and older 57 minutes administration time B Level User Qualification 1998 MHS Inc.

Norman S. Endler, Ph.D., F.R.S.C., James D. A. Parker, Ph.D.

Aim
The PDS (formerly the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, BIDR) is a questionnaire that measures the tendency to give socially desirable responses on self-report instruments. In contrast to a wide variety of measures that have been used to index socially desirable responding, the PDS are multidimensional scales. Based on substantial theoretical and empirical analyses, the PDS separate the scale content into two subscales: Self-Deceptive Enhancement (SDE: the tendency to give honest but inflated self-descriptions) and Impression Management (IM: the tendency to give inflated self-descriptions because of contextual factors). Thus, the PDS captures the two principal forms of socially desirable responding. This approach accepts that respondents may display only one kind of desirable responding, or neither, or both. The PDS are designed to assess socially desirable responding both as a response set and a response style. The PDS have extensive empirical confirmation of reliability and validity, and are appropriate for both clinical and nonclinical samples. The measure has been used successfully to identify individuals who might have distorted their responses when completing other clinical and/or personality diagnostic instruments. The PDS may also be used in educational and human resource settings and can provide an index for comparing the power of different administration conditions to elicit desirable responding. The scales are also useful in instrument development and evaluation.

Norming
The means and standard deviations for four important comparison groups are provided in the table below. The first is a large adult sample from the general population. It includes American and Canadian urban and rural respondents ranging in age from 21 to 75 years. The second is a large college student sample collected over a period of ten years from both Canadian and American universities. The third is a large sample of inmates from Canadian minimum- and maximum-security prisons. Finally, the fourth is a military sample consisting of junior U.S. Navy recruits tested six months into their training. (Please refer to the PDS Manual for references.) Norms for Several Typical Populations Population Mean (SD)
General Population College Students Prison Entrants Military Recruits N 441 289 603 124 SDE 2.2 (2.3) 2.1 (2.5) 2.2 (2.7) 2.2 (3.8) IM 6.7 5.3 5.3 6.3 (4.0) (3.5) (3.6) (3.9) Total 8.9 (3.7) 7.4 (3.4) 7.5 (3.5) 8.5 (4.4)

Instrument
PDS items are presented as 40 statements. Respondents are asked to rate the propositions on a 5-point scale from Not True to Very True indicating the degree to which each statement applies to them. Raw scores are easily calculated, and tables are provided to convert raw scores to T-scores for profiling purposes. Profiles can be completed to compare the respondents results to the General Population or Prison Entrants samples. The Impression Management (IM) scale represents a wellknown category of social desirability aimed at the crude form of dissimulation known as faking or lying. Respondents are asked to rate the degree to which they typically perform various desirable, but uncommon, behaviors (e.g., I always obey laws even if Im unlikely to get caught.) The Self-Deceptive Enhancement (SDE) scale represents an unconscious bias closely related to narcissism (Paulhus & John, 1998). For example, respondents consistently claim to know it all, even when queried about things they could not possibly know about. This measure taps self-deception in the sense of a pervasive lack of insight.

User Qualification
PDS may be easily administered and scored by counselors, nurses, physicians, psychologists, social workers, and other trained professionals and paraprofessionals. B-level qualification requires that, as a minimum, the user has completed courses in tests and measurement at a university or has received equivalent documented training. Professionals with advanced training in psychological assessment and professionals from related disciplines that adhere to relevant professional standards must assume responsibility for the use, interpretation, and communication of results.

Coping with Health Injuries and Problems

The dichotomous scoring procedure (assigning points only for the most extreme responses) eliminates the distinction between low- and moderate-range responses and emphasizes instead the distinction between typical responses and those indicating extreme claims of confidence. Thus, this scoring provides some assurance that overconfidence rather than confidence is being tapped. The PDS Manual outlines the scale items and explains how the instrument should be administered. Interpretation information is detailed and, to permit detection of conscious dissimulation, cutoff points on the IM scale are provided for use as a validity check. Case histories are provided as illustrative examples. The manual also describes the history and development of the instrument, including a readability test that indicated a North American fifth-grade reading level.

Translations
Utilizing our worldwide network of over 400 qualified translators with backgrounds in psychology and medicine, MHS develops accurate translations of assessments published by MHS as well as by other publishers. Many of our products are available in a variety of languages. The PDS are available in English and French (Canadian). For information about the availability of the PDS in other languages, please contact the MHS Translations Department.
International

Scientific Validation
Construct validity issues including evidence for the convergent and discriminant validity of each subscale, are explored in the PDS Manual. Nine supportive studies are summarized demonstrating that the SDE scores are positively associated with objective indicators of distortion (i.e., overconfidence, hindsight bias, over-claiming, and self-inflation). The SDE scores also exhibit positive correlation with self-report and peer-rated measures of adjustment, whereas IM scores show minimal correlation. Scores on the IM scale, however, are more sensitive than SDE scores to situational demands for self-presentation.

Format
PDS is available in the MHS QuikScore Form. This paper-andpencil format is designed for easy recording, scoring, and profiling of responses. No scoring templates are necessary; the respondents answers automatically transfer through to the concealed scoring page. For computer-based testing, PDS may be launched from PsychManager: Your Professional and Personal Organizer. (Please contact MHS for more information on platform programs.) PDS Windows-based software enables you to administer and score PDS assessments while the respondent is seated at a computer. Or by using the QuikEntry mode, you can enter responses from paper forms into the computer program for fast and reliable scoring. The software generates a report for the administrator, giving statistical, textual, and graphical results and interpretations. The software format offers additional flexibility: A 7-point response format and continuous scoring can be utilized as an alternative administrative/scoring option. The alternate response format allows the administrator to choose the format that is more consistent with the format of other assessments, which is advantageous since the administration of the PDS is often integrated or blended with other assessments. Although the dichotomous scoring of PDS is recommended, practitioners may prefer to score the PDS items as continuous (i.e., using the 17-point or 15-point responses). With the continuous option, the possible scores range from 20 to 140 for 7-point scales and 20 to 100 for 5-point scales.

Supportive Literature
Paulhus, D. L., & John, O. P. (1998). Egoistic and moralistic biases: The interplay of self-deceptive mechanisms with basic traits and motives. Journal of Personality, 66, 10251060. Paulhus, D. L. (1998). Interpersonal and intrapsychic adaptiveness of trait self-enhancement: A mixed blessing? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 11971208.

Complements for the PDS

BarOn Emotional QuotientInventory (BarOn EQi) Coping with Health Injuries and Problems (CHIP) Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) Dyadict Adjustment Scale (DAS) Hare Psychopathy ChecklistRevised (PCLR) Holden Psychological Screening Inventory (HPSI) Personality Self-Portrait (PSP) Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAIC) System Assessment45 Questionnaire (SA45) Test of Memory Malingering

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