[R] Significance test, Cronbach's Alpha

Tom Backer Johnsen backer at psych.uib.no
Mon Jun 5 12:34:34 CEST 2006


Jim Lemon wrote:
> Tom Backer Johnsen wrote:
>> Hello:
>>
>> I am reviewing a paper at the moment where the author reports a 
>> Cronbach's Alpha and adds a significance test of the value.  I was not 
>> aware that such a test exists.  Does it?  If so, how is it done in R?
>>
> Hi Tom,
> 
> This may be due to the fact that some interpret Cronbach's alpha as a 
> correlation between items, thus encouraging the unwary to assume that 
> the probability of a numerically equivalent correlation can be used as a 
> test of significance.

That is exactly what I suspect.  Actually, it is not too far off, but 
definitely not the same.

Tom

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| Tom Backer Johnsen, Psychometrics Unit,  Faculty of Psychology |
| University of Bergen, Christies gt. 12, N-5015 Bergen,  NORWAY |
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