The Eysenck Personality Inventory and Social Desirability Response Set with Student and Clinical Groups

The EPI was administered to three student groups and to two clinical groups in studies allowing the investigation of Social Desirability(D) effects. Form A of the EPI and the Edwards D scale were completed by 100 students; Form A and the Crowne‐Marlowe D scale by 177 students; Form B and the Crowne‐Marlowe D scale by 175 students; and Form A, including the Lie (L) scale, by 38 potential renal transplant patients and 15 potential renal donors. Negative linear correlations between the Neuroticism (N) scale and the D or L scales were found for all groups. A very pronounced reduction in N scores was found with potential renal donors, together with high L scores. In most cases, no reliable correlation between Extraversion (E) and the D or L scales was found. The N and E scales were correlated negatively for Form B. Implications of these results for the use of the EPI are considered. Correlations with age and IQ were also obtained.