Abstract:

Previous research suggests that agency awareness estimates provided in the typical needs assessment study are inflated by a response set labeled "agency awareness acquiescence" (AAA); ie, respondents who report that they are aware of one or more fictitious agencies (acquiescers) are more likely to report being aware of more "real" agencies than nonacquiescers. Here, analyis of results of a questionnaire completed by 157 students at the University of Missouri, St. Louis confirm the existence of AAA. Although AAA was related to the impression management component of social desirability, it was not related to the self-deception component of social desirability or to two acquiescence measures. Women exhibited slightly more AAA than men. Age, ethnic background, & knowledge of the aging process had no impact on AAA.