Coefficient alpha: A reliability coefficient for the 21st century?

Yanyun Yang; Samuel B. Green

doi:10.1177/0734282911406668

Coefficient alpha: A reliability coefficient for the 21st century?

Yanyun Yang, Samuel B. Green

Social and Family Dynamics, T. Denny Sanford School of (SSFD)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

298 Scopus citations

Abstract

Coefficient alpha is almost universally applied to assess reliability of scales in psychology. We argue that researchers should consider alternatives to coefficient alpha. Our preference is for structural equation modeling (SEM) estimates of reliability because they are informative and allow for an empirical evaluation of the assumptions underlying them. An example is presented to illustrate the advantages of SEM estimates of reliability.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	377-392
Number of pages	16
Journal	Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment
Volume	29
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282911406668
State	Published - Aug 2011

Keywords

coefficient alpha
reliability
structural equation modeling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Education
Clinical Psychology
General Psychology

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10.1177/0734282911406668

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title = "Coefficient alpha: A reliability coefficient for the 21st century?",

abstract = "Coefficient alpha is almost universally applied to assess reliability of scales in psychology. We argue that researchers should consider alternatives to coefficient alpha. Our preference is for structural equation modeling (SEM) estimates of reliability because they are informative and allow for an empirical evaluation of the assumptions underlying them. An example is presented to illustrate the advantages of SEM estimates of reliability.",

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Coefficient alpha: A reliability coefficient for the 21st century?

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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