The effects of anonymity on the Holden Psychological Screening Inventory

The influence of anonymous versus identified responding was investigated for 940 male naval personnel responding to the Holden Psychological Screening Inventory, a brief, self-report screening measure of psychopathology. Analyses indicated that identified respondents did not score significantly lower than anonymous respondents on the inventorys various scales of psychological maladjustment. Results, therefore, failed to support the view that anonymous responding, per se, reduces the social desirability demand characteristics associated with an assessment context. It is suggested that the effects of anonymity may be multidimensional and that future research should more clearly define and operationalize the construct of anonymity.