Journal article
Coefficient alpha and beyond: Issues and alternatives for educational research
The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, Vol.22(2), pp.209-213
2013
Abstract
Cronbach’s coefficient alpha has been widely known and used in educational research. Many education research practitioners, however, may not be aware of the potential issues when the main assumptions for coefficient alpha are violated in research practice. This paper provides a brief discussion about two assumptions that may make the use and interpretation of coefficient alpha less appropriate in education research: violations of the tau-equivalence model assumption and the error independence assumption. Violation of either or both of these assumptions will have negative effects on the precision of coefficient alpha as reliability estimate. The paper further presents two alternative reliability estimates without the assumptions of tau-equivalence or error independence. Research practitioners may consider these and other alternatives, when measurement data may not satisfy the assumptions for coefficient alpha.
Details
- Title
- Coefficient alpha and beyond: Issues and alternatives for educational research
- Authors/Creators
- T. Teo (Author/Creator) - University of AucklandX. Fan (Author/Creator) - University of Macau
- Publication Details
- The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, Vol.22(2), pp.209-213
- Publisher
- Springer Singapore
- Identifiers
- 991005545105707891
- Copyright
- © 2013 De La Salle University
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- 6 Social Sciences
- 6.73 Social Psychology
- 6.73.685 Item Response Theory
- Web Of Science research areas
- Education & Educational Research
- ESI research areas
- Social Sciences, general