What is a common limitation of self-report measures in relationship research?

What is a common limitation of self-report measures in relationship research?

• A. They can be biased by social desirability.
• B. They are always accurate.
• C. They provide objective data.
• D. They are infallible.

Answer: (B)

Self-report measures in relationship research are limited by social desirability bias. People want to present themselves in a favorable light or avoid admitting relationship problems, so they may overstate positive feelings, satisfaction, or harmony and understate conflicts or dissatisfaction. This makes the data less accurate reflections of actual behavior or experience and can distort conclusions about how relationships work. While memory errors and limited self-insight can also affect responses, the most common and impactful limitation is the tendency to tailor answers to how one wants to be seen rather than to objective truth.

Self-report measures in relationship research are limited by social desirability bias. People want to present themselves in a favorable light or avoid admitting relationship problems, so they may overstate positive feelings, satisfaction, or harmony and understate conflicts or dissatisfaction. This makes the data less accurate reflections of actual behavior or experience and can distort conclusions about how relationships work. While memory errors and limited self-insight can also affect responses, the most common and impactful limitation is the tendency to tailor answers to how one wants to be seen rather than to objective truth.