Randomly-selected older people (N = 104) completed Lawton's revised PGC Morale Scale and a brief version of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. It was hypothesized that morale and social desirability would covary positively. This expectation was partially supported by the data, but the results are different from earlier findings. Theoretical and measurement difficulties in social desirability research are discussed and gerontological researchers are cautioned against being any more sympathetic toward SD measures than they are toward measures of well-being.
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