Extreme response style in cross-cultural research: An empirical investigation

The study investigates the issue of cross-cultural Extreme Response Style. Through an international application of the Greenleaf extreme response styl e measure, the author finds that significant differences in the proportiona l use of the extreme categories can be found between cultures. Increasing r esponse alternatives from a 3- to 5-point Likert-type format showed a drama tic decrease in overall extreme responding. Additional response categories offer no further decrease in extreme response style. Evidence is provided f or the use of limited response formats for cross-cultural research. Between group differences in style of response can be serious enough to evoke stat istical differences between cultural/country groups. Researchers must contr ol for extreme response style occurrences in international research. Implic ations for cross-cultural research are discussed.