Social desirability and Mexican American counselor preferences: Statistical control for a potential confound

Mexican American college students (N = 90) were shown photographs and written descriptions of a Mexican American counselor and a European American counselor. Consistent with previous research, participants identified as low, medium, or high in acculturation expressed a strong preference for an ethnically similar over an ethnically dissimilar counselor as a helper for both an academic and a personal concern. However, statistical removal of variance attributed to social desirability as measured by the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (M-C SDS) canceled the counselor ethnicity effect. In 1 of 2 covariate analyses computed, the M-C SDS was effective in depressing the counselor ethnicity effect for only medium and high, but not for low, acculturation participants, raising interesting issues about the relationship between social desirability and level of acculturation among Mexican Americans. Research and counseling implications are discussed.