Probing item social desirability by correlating personality items with Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR): A validity examination

► Social desirability is often included in the validation of a personality scale. ► Items that correlated strongly with social desirability are often eliminated. ► The current study examined the validity of this practice. ► Self-deception scores were valid in gauging item social desirability. ► Impression management showed less validity.