Coefficient Alpha: Interpret With Caution
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Panayides, Panayiotis
Abstract / Description
Heavy reliance on Cronbach’s alpha has been standard practice in many validation studies. However, there seem to be two misconceptions about the interpretation of alpha. First, alpha is mistakenly considered as an indication of unidimensionality and second, that the higher the value of alpha the better. The aim of this study is to clarify these misconceptions with the use of real data from the educational setting. Results showed that high alpha values can be obtained in multidimensional scales or tests given a sufficient number of items. Therefore, alpha cannot be an indication of unidimensionality. At the same time, after a certain point, higher values of alpha do not necessarily mean higher reliability and better quality scales or tests. In fact very high values of alpha could be an indication of lengthy scales, parallel items or a narrow coverage of the construct under consideration. Researchers are advised to apply caution when reporting alpha.
Keyword(s)
coefficient alpha reliability unidimensionalityPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2013-11-29
Journal title
Europe's Journal of Psychology
Volume
9
Issue
4
Page numbers
687–696
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Panayides, P. (2013). Coefficient Alpha: Interpret With Caution. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 9(4), 687–696. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v9i4.653
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Panayides, Panayiotis
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-21T10:01:22Z
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Made available on2018-11-21T10:01:22Z
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Date of first publication2013-11-29
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Abstract / DescriptionHeavy reliance on Cronbach’s alpha has been standard practice in many validation studies. However, there seem to be two misconceptions about the interpretation of alpha. First, alpha is mistakenly considered as an indication of unidimensionality and second, that the higher the value of alpha the better. The aim of this study is to clarify these misconceptions with the use of real data from the educational setting. Results showed that high alpha values can be obtained in multidimensional scales or tests given a sufficient number of items. Therefore, alpha cannot be an indication of unidimensionality. At the same time, after a certain point, higher values of alpha do not necessarily mean higher reliability and better quality scales or tests. In fact very high values of alpha could be an indication of lengthy scales, parallel items or a narrow coverage of the construct under consideration. Researchers are advised to apply caution when reporting alpha.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationPanayides, P. (2013). Coefficient Alpha: Interpret With Caution. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 9(4), 687–696. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v9i4.653
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ISSN1841-0413
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1222
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1414
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v9i4.653
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Keyword(s)coefficient alphaen_US
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Keyword(s)reliabilityen_US
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Keyword(s)unidimensionalityen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleCoefficient Alpha: Interpret With Cautionen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue4
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Journal titleEurope's Journal of Psychology
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Page numbers687–696
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Volume9
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record