A Direct Latent Variable Modeling Based Method for Point and Interval Estimation of Coefficient Alpha. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Raykov, Tenko; Marcoulides, George A.
• Is Part Of: Educational and psychological measurement. Volume 75:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: coefficient alpha -- confidence interval -- latent variable modeling -- population discrepancy; Educational tests and measurements -- Periodicals; Psychological tests -- Periodicals; 151.205
• DOI: 10.1177/0013164414526039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-1644

Abstract

A direct approach to point and interval estimation of Cronbach's coefficient alpha for multiple component measuring instruments is outlined. The procedure is based on a latent variable modeling application with widely circulated software. As a by-product, using sample data the method permits ascertaining whether the population discrepancy between alpha and the composite reliability coefficient may be practically negligible for a given empirical setting. The outlined approach is illustrated with numerical data.