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Cited by 687

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Congeneric and (Essentially) Tau-Equivalent Estimates of Score Reliability: What They Are and How to Use Them

Graham, James M.·2006·Educational and Psychological Measurement

Abstract

Coefficient alpha, the most commonly used estimate of internal consistency, is often considered a lower bound estimate of reliability, though the extent of its underestimation is not typically known. Many researchers are unaware that coefficient alpha is based on the essentially tau-equivalent measurement model. It is the violation of the assumptions required by this measurement model that are often responsible for coefficient alpha's underestimation of reliability. This article presents a hierarchy of measurement models that can be used to estimate reliability and illustrates a procedure by which structural equation modeling can be used to test the fit of these models to a set of data. Test and data characteristics that can influence the extent to which the assumption of tau-equivalence is violated are discussed. Both heuristic and applied examples are used to augment the discussion.

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Metadata

Authors
Graham, J. M.
Venue
Educational and Psychological Measurement
Published
2006-12
Volume
66
Issue
6
Pages
930-944
ISSN
  • 0013-1644 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-3888
OpenAlex
W2084555686
Cited by
687
References
22
FWCI
7.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Congeneric and (Essentially) Tau-Equivalent Estimates of Score Reliability: What They Are and How to Use Them. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1177/0013164406288165
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Graham, J. M. (2006). Congeneric and (Essentially) Tau-Equivalent Estimates of Score Reliability: What They Are and How to Use Them. Educational and Psychological Measurement. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164406288165

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