title: Coefficient alpha: conceptualizations and anomalies.
abstract: In this article distinctions are made among some of the different conceptualizations of, and formulas for, Cronbach's coefficient alpha as it is applied to dichotomous or nondichotomous, standardized or unstandardized, and weighted or unweighted data. Issues regarding the statistical significance of alpha and the occasionally encountered anomalies of artificially high alpha and negative values of alpha are given particular attention.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1289.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Knapp
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results