An Examination of Acquiescent Response Styles in Cross-Cultural Research

Response styles constitute a formidable challenge for cross-cultural research. In this article, three different response styles are discussed (acquiescence, extremity scoring, and social desirability). Acquiescence responding (ARS) is then integrated into a larger classical test theoretical framework, which allows for an examination of the various roles that ARS may play in cross-cultural research. A new meta-analytical method is proposed to examine the prevalence and nature of ARS. Preliminary evidence suggests that ARS has only a small, but systematic effect on survey responses. The meaning of ARS is explored through correlations with nation-level indicators. Implications for future research are discussed.