Alpha, Dimension-Free, and Model-Based Internal Consistency Reliability
- 11 December 2008
- journal article
- theory and-methods
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Psychometrika
- Vol. 74 (1) , 137-143
Abstract
As pointed out by Sijtsma (in press), coefficient alpha is inappropriate as a single summary of the internal consistency of a composite score. Better estimators of internal consistency are available. In addition to those mentioned by Sijtsma, an old dimension-free coefficient and structural equation model based coefficients are proposed to improve the routine reporting of psychometric internal consistency. The various ways to measure internal consistency are also shown to be appropriate to binary and polytomous items.Keywords
This publication has 22 references indexed in Scilit:
- On the Use, the Misuse, and the Very Limited Usefulness of Cronbach’s AlphaPsychometrika, 2009
- Bias of Coefficient afor Fixed Congeneric Measures with Correlated ErrorsApplied Psychological Measurement, 2001
- Test Theory: A Unified TreatmentJournal of the American Statistical Association, 2000
- A two‐stage estimation of structural equation models with continuous and polytomous variablesBritish Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 1995
- Factor Analysis and Related MethodsJournal of Educational Statistics, 1987
- Rank-Reducibility of a Symmetric Matrix and Sampling Theory of Minimum Trace Factor AnalysisPsychometrika, 1982
- Issues in the Comparative Measurement of Political DemocracyAmerican Sociological Review, 1980
- A statistical lower bound to population reliability.Psychological Bulletin, 1978
- Lower Bounds for the Reliability of the Total Score on a Test Composed of Non-Homogeneous Items: II: A Search Procedure to Locate the Greatest Lower BoundPsychometrika, 1977
- Validity, Invalidity, and ReliabilitySociological Methodology, 1970