Final answer:
To reduce the likelihood of participants giving socially desirable answers, one should assure anonymity, use neutral and non-leading questions, and employ indirect questioning techniques in surveys and research interviews.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the best ways to reduce the participants' likelihood of giving socially desirable answers in surveys or research interviews is by ensuring anonymity and confidentiality, crafting neutral and non-leading questions, and using indirect questioning techniques. Anonymity allows participants to feel more comfortable providing honest responses without fear of judgment. Neutral wording avoids prompting subjects towards a certain answer, thereby reducing bias and increasing the reliability of the data. Indirect questioning helps to assess sensitive issues without making respondents feel that they are being personally judged or assessed.