The fact that survey respondents overreport voting in elections and the frequency of their church attendance is an example of the ________ effect.
A)Hawthorne
B)coattail
C)social desirability
D)bandwagon

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The social desirability effect is a bias that occurs when survey respondents provide answers that they believe are socially acceptable or desirable, rather than their true beliefs or behaviors. Respondents may overreport their voting or church attendance to present themselves in a positive light, even if they did not actually participate as much as they claim. The Hawthorne effect is a bias that occurs when study participants alter their behavior or performance because they know they are being observed. The coattail effect refers to the tendency of voters to support the same political party or candidate as others in their social network or community. The bandwagon effect refers to the tendency of individuals to conform to the opinions or behaviors of a larger group because they want to fit in or be part of the majority. None of these biases specifically relate to the overreporting of voting or church attendance.

The Fact That Survey Respondents Overreport Voting in Elections and the Frequency