Description

The Deception Assessment Scales [KEP-5] are psychometric scales designed to assess two key dimensions of socially desirable responding: Self-Deception and Impression Management. These dimensions relate to the ways in which individuals present themselves and to the possibility that self-reported responses may be influenced by a tendency to maintain or project a more favorable or socially acceptable image.

Assessing socially desirable responding is particularly important in psychological and social research because it can help identify possible distortions in self-report data and contribute to a more accurate interpretation of research findings.

Aim

The primary aim of the KEP-5 is to systematically assess Self-Deception and Impression Management. According to the source material, the scales are intended to evaluate forms of social behavior and personality-related characteristics that become evident when individuals report information about themselves. They have also been used in clinical personality assessment and in the development and evaluation of psychometric instruments.

The scales can therefore be useful for examining whether responses may be influenced by a tendency to present oneself in an unrealistically favorable way.

Structure and Administration

The instrument contains 40 items assessing the two main forms of socially desirable responding. According to the available material, it is particularly suitable for individuals over the age of 16, and completion generally requires approximately 5 to 7 minutes.

Its relatively brief administration time makes it suitable for inclusion in broader assessment batteries when researchers also wish to examine the possible influence of response bias.

Scoring

Each item is rated on a five-point scale, with 1 corresponding to “not true” and 5 corresponding to “absolutely true.” According to the source, the total score is derived by summing only the “extreme” values, which are subsequently transformed into T-scores.

The resulting scores can be used to estimate the extent to which respondents’ answers may reflect tendencies toward self-deception or deliberate impression management.

Reliability and Validity

The available material reports satisfactory levels of validity and reliability for the Greek version of the scales. In particular, the internal consistency coefficient was reported as Cronbach’s alpha = 0.85, indicating very good internal consistency.

Reliability assessment is especially important for instruments intended to detect possible response biases, as it contributes to the consistency and interpretability of the resulting scores.

Applications

The KEP-5 may be used in psychometric research, clinical assessment, personality psychology, and social science research, particularly in studies relying on self-report measures.

They may also be used alongside other psychological instruments to help identify possible tendencies toward socially desirable responding. In this way, the scales can support a more careful interpretation of self-reported data and improve the overall quality of psychological and behavioral assessment.

References

Rogoza, R., Wyszyńska, P., Maćkiewicz, M., & Cieciuch, J. (2016). Differentiation of the two narcissistic faces in their relations to personality traits and basic values. Personality and Individual Differences, 95, 85–88.

Paulhus, D. L. (2018). The Big Two dimensions of desirability. In Agency and Communion in Social Psychology (pp. 79–89). Routledge.

Freeman, J., & Samson, F. (2012). Are you telling the truth? Psychopathy assessment and impression management in a community sample. The Open Criminology Journal, 5(1).