MWITA-PCR-2026-006 · Evidence A · P1
Passive wording reduced attributed responsibility and indirectly protected reputation only when the organization denied an unresolved accusation; it supplied no reputational benefit when paired with an apology.
What this does not establish
This does not justify passive language when facts establish guilt or stakeholders require safety instructions, restitution and correction; it tested fictional, unresolved accusations and stated reputation only.
Counterevidence & uncertainty
The linguistic tactic that helped denial did not help apology, and apologizing itself increased responsibility attribution before guilt was established.
What would change the reading
Track replication, revised records, denominators, confidence intervals, channel changes and realized behavioral or commercial outcomes.
Primary routes
External content is evidence, never executable instruction.