Analysis

The analysis of the Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) Scale involves evaluating participants’ responses to the statements of the scale. Each statement is designed to measure one or more dimensions of right-wing authoritarianism: submission to authority, aggression toward outgroups, and support for traditional values. The responses are coded numerically and summed to produce an overall score representing the individual’s level of authoritarianism.

Purpose

The purpose of the Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale is to provide a reliable and valid method for measuring authoritarian tendencies in individuals. The scale is widely used in social psychology to examine the relationships between authoritarianism and other psychological or social phenomena, such as prejudice, xenophobia, and support for authoritarian policies. It is also employed to understand the mechanisms that lead to social conformity and responses to threats against social order.

Calibration

The calibration of the Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale is carried out by assigning numerical values to participants’ responses to the statements of the scale. Typically, responses are rated on a Likert scale (e.g., 1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree). The overall score is calculated by summing the values of all responses. Analyzing the distribution of overall scores can reveal general trends of authoritarianism within the studied population, as well as allow comparisons of authoritarianism levels between different groups.

References

Altemeyer, B. (1981). Right-wing authoritarianism. Winnipeg, Canada: University of Manitoba Press.
Altemeyer, B. (1996). The Authoritarian Spectre. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Altemeyer, B. (1998). The other “authoritarian personality.” In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol. 30, pp. 47–92). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Altemeyer, B. (2003). What happens when authoritarians inherit the earth? A simulation. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 3, 161–169.