title: Reliability generalization of the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure-Revised (MEIM-R).
abstract: [Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 63(5) ofJournal of Counseling Psychology(see record 2016-33161-001). The name of author Erika Feinauer was misspelled as Erika Feinhauer. All versions of this article have been corrected.] Individuals' strength of ethnic identity has been linked with multiple positive indicators, including academic achievement and overall psychological well-being. The measure researchers use most often to assess ethnic identity, the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), underwent substantial revision in 2007. To inform scholars investigating ethnic identity, we performed a reliability generalization analysis on data from the revised version (MEIM-R) and compared it with data from the original MEIM. Random-effects weighted models evaluated internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach's alpha). Reliability coefficients for the MEIM-R averaged α = .88 across 37 samples, a statistically significant increase over the average of α = .84 for the MEIM across 75 studies. Reliability coefficients for the MEIM-R did not differ across study and participant characteristics such as sample gender and ethnic composition. However, consistently lower reliability coefficients averaging α = .81 were found among participants with low levels of education, suggesting that greater attention to data reliability is warranted when evaluating the ethnic identity of individuals such as middle-school students. Future research will be needed to ascertain whether data with other measures of aspects of personal identity (e.g., racial identity, gender identity) also differ as a function of participant level of education and associated cognitive or maturation processes. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, Brigham Young University.
authors.forename: Hayley M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Herrington
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, Brigham Young University.
authors.forename: Timothy B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Teacher Education, Brigham Young University.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Feinauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, Brigham Young University.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Griner
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult