Reverse-coded items are commonly used in psychological measurement to reduce response biases and improve data quality. However, their use introduces a polarity effect—systematic differences between regular and reversed items—resulting in reduced internal consistency, increased dimensionality, and potential biases in structural relationships across constructs. Consequently, some researchers caution against their inclusion. Conversely, omitting reversed items may mask rather than eliminate underlying biases, threatening measurement validity. Although the polarity effect is widely acknowledged, its precise causes remain unclear. Moreover, existing research often overlooks the fact that different types of reversed items (e.g., negations, antonyms) differ in their psychometric impact. This project aims to address these gaps by integrating psychometric theory with insights from linguistics and cognitive psychology, clarifying the mechanisms underlying the polarity effect, and developing methods to effectively control its impact.

Sustainable Development Goals

Masaryk University is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions and quality of life on our planet by 2030.