An environmental psychologist carried out a quasi-experimental study to investigate if a cognitive-behavioral conservation workshop (targeting personal schemas and values regarding waste) increases self-reported household conservation efforts. She compared residents from two residential complexes: Canopy Court, where residents participated in the interactive cognitive workshop, and Spruce Suites, where residents only received standard informational leaflets.
A random sample of residents from both complexes completed a structured telephone interview with an environmental investigator. During the interview, residents rated their daily household conservation behaviors (such as water saving, electricity conservation, and recycling) on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 representing highly active conservation.
| Conservation Rating | Frequency from Canopy Court (Cognitive Workshop) | Frequency from Spruce Suites (Control Leaflet) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | 5 | 10 |
| 5 | 8 | 10 |
| 6 | 9 | 5 |
| 7 | 6 | 3 |
| 8 | 4 | 1 |
| 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Median Rating | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Range | 8 | 7 |
Following a peer review, the following statement was made about the study:
'There is a potential issue with social desirability when considering these findings.'
Explain what this statement means in relation to this study.
