Extreme wording makes scale items more definite and less ambiguous

Evidence

Since the items “naturally selected” themselves, from the lot I supplied for “choosing up,” I do not know. I suspect that strongly phrased statements are more definite (less ambiguous), which reduces their measurement error and gives them a better chance to intercorrelate and make the team. Contraits in particular might prosper if sharply phrased, because it appears you have to whack High RWAs some (cognitively speaking) to get them to notice they disagree. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 822

Categorization

• QUESTION: The claim extreme items provoke High RWAs into noticing disagreement is testable and interesting.