Self-report bias occurs when respondents provide inaccurate or socially acceptable answers to surveys, interviews, or questionnaires. In the field of psychology, this phenomenon negatively impacts the validity of data obtained through self-report emotional, behavioral, or personality assessments. Self-report bias may arise due to a respondent’s faulty memory, misunderstanding of questions, or the tendency to engage in self-enhancement. Self-report bias may be alleviated by ensuring respondent anonymity, using neutral or balanced question stems, and verifying data through other objective sources. For example, self-report bias is exemplified by a survey respondent who overstates the frequency of exercise in their routine.
Categories