Cited by 522Psychometric Methodologies and TestingEducational Assessment and PedagogyReliability and Agreement in Measurement

Limitations of Coefficient Alpha as an Index of Test Unidimensionality1

Green, Samuel B., Lissitz, Robert W., Mulaik, Stanlen A.·1977·Educational and Psychological Measurement

Abstract

Confusion in the literature between the concepts of internal consistency and homogeneity has led to a misuse of coefficient alpha as an index of item homogeneity. Coefficient alpha is actually a complexly determined test statistic, item homogeneity only being one influence on its magnitude. The related statistic, the average intercorrelation, has similar difficulties. Several indices of item homogeneity derived from the model of common factor analysis are offered as alternatives.

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Crossref · 10.1177/001316447703700403

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  • Reliability assumes that the scale is already unidimensional, and when it is not, reliability can be artificially inflated.

    “However, reliability assumes that the scale is already unidimensional, and when it is not, reliability can be artificially inflated (see Al-Hoorie & Vitta, in press;Green, Lissitz, & Mulaik, 1977;Sijtsma, 2009).”

    From The L2 motivational self system: A meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as Green, Lissitz, & Mulaik, 1977

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Authors
Green, S. B., Lissitz, R. W., & Mulaik, S. A.
Affiliations
  • Arizona State University (US)
  • University of Georgia (US)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
Venue
Educational and Psychological Measurement
Published
1977-12
Volume
37
Issue
4
Pages
827-838
ISSN
  • 0013-1644 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-3888
OpenAlex
W2074351684
Cited by
522
References
9
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 12
FWCI
3.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Educational and Psychological Measurement (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Education › Educational Assessment and Pedagogy
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Reliability and Agreement in Measurement
Keywords
Cronbach's alpha, internal consistency, item homogeneity, common factor model

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