Social desirability bias is a tendency in research for respondents to answer questions in a way that they believe will be viewed favorably by others, rather than answering truthfully. This bias is often driven by a desire to conform to social norms and avoid being judged negatively, and it can lead to inaccurate or incomplete data. Social desirability bias may be especially prevalent in sensitive topics such as health, sexuality, or substance use, where respondents may feel pressure to present themselves in a certain light.
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