This is a hybrid event.

Internal consistency reliability: What is wrong with Cronbach’s alpha and what to use instead (omega_hierarchical)

Richard Zinbarg, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Clinical Science Training, Psychology Department, Northwestern University; Founder, Anxiety and Panic Treatment Program; and Principal Investigator of the Anxiety and Panic Research Program, The Family Institute at Northwestern University

When interested in estimating the proportion of scale variance due to a latent variable common to all of a scale’s indicators, the vast majority of applied researchers believe that Cronbach’s alpha is the index of choice. I will discuss the importance of the proportion of scale variance due to a latent variable common to all of a scale’s indicators and the central problem with Cronbach’s alpha for estimating this important parameter. In addition, I will introduce an alternative to Cronbach’s alpha - coefficient omegahierarchical – and show it to overcome the positive bias often inherent in Cronbach’s alpha. Finally, I will present the results of simulations testing the accuracy of several different methods for estimating omegahierarchical and conclude with recommendations regarding how to estimate omegahierarchical.

This lecture is made possible in part by a generous endowment from Professor Allen L. Edwards.

Q&A and light refreshments to follow.