On the Relationship Between Coefficient Alpha and Composite Reliability

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Peterson, Robert A.; Kim, Yeolib
• 署名单位: University of Texas System; University of Texas Austin
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/a0030767
• 发表日期: 2013
• 页码: 194-198
• 关键词: coefficient alpha; composite reliability; Meta-analysis

摘要

Cronbach's coefficient alpha is the most widely used estimator of the reliability of tests and scales. However, it has been criticized as being a lower bound and hence underestimating true reliability. A popular alternative to coefficient alpha is composite reliability, which is usually calculated in conjunction with structural equation modeling. A quantitative analysis of 2,524 pairs of coefficient alpha and composite reliability values derived from empirical investigations revealed that although the average composite reliability value (.86) exceeded the average corresponding coefficient alpha value (.84), the difference was relatively inconsequential for practical applications such as meta-analysis.