Skew and Internal Consistency

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2006

Department

Psychology

Abstract

The effects of skew on the standardized item alpha were examined with Monte Carlo techniques. Alphas computed from normal variables were compared with alphas from lognormal variables, ranks, and skewed versus normal Likert-type variables. The extent and direction of skew were varied, as was the size of the population interitem correlation (rho), the number of items, and the number of categories for Likert-type variables. Because the average interitern correlation affects alpha and skew affects the average interitem correlation, the effect of skew on the average interitern correlation also was examined. Results indicated that skew decreased the average interitern correlation and produced small decreases in alpha that were largest when skew was large, rho was small, items were skewed in opposite directions, and there were fewer items.

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Psychology

Volume

91

Issue

6

First Page

1351

Last Page

1358

Link to Full Text

Find in your library

Share

COinS