Social Desirability Bias

A type of response bias in which research participants answer questions in a way that presents themselves favorably rather than truthfully, either to project a positive self-image or to avoid judgment from the researcher. In accessibility research, social desirability bias can be amplified by power dynamics between researchers and participants with disabilities — participants may give overly positive feedback about assistive technologies because they feel grateful for the researcher's attention, don't want to seem incapable, or are influenced by the charity model of disability that positions the researcher as a helper.