Chronbach’s Alpha

Ginnie Bushong
Chronbach Alpha
• Also known as Alpha
Coefficient
• An internal consistency or
reliability coefficient for an
instrument requiring only one
test administration.
• General form of the KR20
formula
KR20 Formula
• a = (k/k-1)(1-(Σsi2/st2))
– When:
• k = number of conditions contributing
to a total score
• s = standard deviation
– Range from 0 to 1.0
• a > .9 is excellent
• a > .8 is good
• a > .7 is acceptable
• a > .6 is questionable
• a > .5 is poor
• a < .5 is unacceptable
Survey Research
• Validity
– Will the survey provide the proper
information for a researcher to
determine a conclusion?
• Pilot Test & Panel of Experts
• Reliability
– Will the survey produce consistent
results?
• Chronbach Alpha
Quantitative Research
• Meunier, R. A., Talbert, B. A. &
Latour
, M. A. (2002). Evaluation of the
incubators in the classroom prog
ram: does it increase fourth grad
e students’ knowledge of agricul
ture-related science concepts?
Journal of Agricultural Educatio
n 43
(3), 49-60.
Qualitative Research
• Haygood
, J., Baker, M., Hogg, J. & Bullo
ck, S. (2004) The influence of fo
undational and expressed values
on personal behaviors of teacher
s.
Journal of Agricultural Educatio
n 45
(1), 54-61.
References
• Chronbach, L J. (2004). My current thoughts
on coefficient alpha and successor
procedures. Educational and Psychological
Measurement, 64(3), 391-418. Retrieved
September 21, 2006 from EBSCOhost
Database.
• Frankel, J. R. & Wallen, N. E. (2006). How to
design and evaluate research in education,
sixth edition. Boston: McGraw Hill.
• George, D. & Mallery, P. (2006). SPSS for
Windows step by step. Boston: Pearson
Education, Inc.