The bogus pipeline (BPL), a procedure intended to improve the truthful
ness of self-reports, was examined in terms of the validity of its eff
ects, its optimal procedural format, and its appropriate domain of use
. Social psychological research that has used the BPL is reviewed and
meta-analyzed. Thirty-one studies were coded for effect size and relev
ant procedural characteristics. A significant mean BPL versus control
condition effect was evident across these studies, indicating that the
BPL engendered reliable effects consistent with a reduction in social
ly desirable responding. The BPL produced larger effects when task ins
tructions required Ss to guess the BPL's output. These findings, coupl
ed with previous indirect validation, provide reasonable documentation
that the BPL shifts self-reports toward veracity. Past criticisms of
the BPL are considered, and recommendations for its future use are mad
e.