Rigorous comparison of the reliability coefficients of several tests or measurement procedures requires a sampling theory for the coefficients. This paper summarizes the important aspects of the sampling theory for Cronbach's (1951) coefficient alpha--a widely used internal consistency coefficient. This theory enables researchers to test a…

The kappamax reliability index of domain-referenced tests is defined as the upper bound of kappa when all possibile cutoff scores are considered. Computational procedures for kappamax are described, as well as its approximation for long tests, based on Kuder-Richardson formula 21. The sampling error of kappamax, and the effects of test length and…

Use of Tukey's Jackknife in establishing a confidence interval around the population coefficient alpha is explored and the robustness of Feldt's procedure along with ten variants of the Jackknife when the data do not conform to the necessary normality requirements are evaluated. Only two of the variants compared to Feldt's approach. (RC)

Shows that the Harris factors of R have psychometric properties similar to those discussed by Kaiser and Caffrey (1965) and Bentler (1968). Specifically it is shown that the Harris factors of R maximize a lower-bound to the reliability of a composite measure derived by Guttman (1945). (Author/RC)

THIS TEST BATTERY IS DESIGNED TO BE USED AS AN AID IN COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE FOR PUPILS IN THE NINTH AND TENTH GRADES OF ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN ISRAEL. AS THE INTENT IS TO MEASURE THE PUPIL'S ABILITY TO DO CRITICAL THINKING IN BROAD AREAS, THE TEST BATTERY MEASURES GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RATHER THAN SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENT SKILLS IN THE…

A least squares approach to estimating the reliability of a measure consisting of more than three content homogeneous or congeneric parts is proposed. The advantages of this method over a more indirect approach in which certain parts of a measure are combined to use Kristof's or Feldt's coefficients are examined. One hundred four-part tests were…

INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUED INTO VARIOUS EFFECTS OF NON-INDEPENDENT ERROR INTRODUCED INTO MULTIPLE-CHOICE TEST SCORES AS A RESULT OF CHANCE GUESSING SUCCESS. A MODEL IS DEVELOPED IN WHICH THE CONCEPT OF THEORETICAL COMPONENTS OF SCORES IS NOT INTRODUCED AND IN WHICH, THEREFORE, NO ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUCH COMPONENTS NEED…

This investigation had two major purposes. The first was to explore the use of an inferential technique called Tukey's Jackknife in establishing a confidence interval about cooefficient alpha reliability. The second purpose was to study the robustness of the Feldt and the jackknife procedures when the data fails to satisfy usual normality…

The efficiency of mastery tests of fixed length which sorts students into two categories is analyzed. For the sort of the students, an index, suggested by Fisher's linear discriminant function for two groups, is provided. (DB)

This study assessed the extent to which students commit various types of errors when completing Holland's Self-Directed Search (SDS) entirely on their own. Nearly all students made some type of error and approximately half of the students made errors that affected their final 3-letter summary codes. Almost one-fifth of the students made errors…

Critical to precise quantitative research is reliability estimation. Researchers have limited tools, however, to assess the reliability of evolving instruments. Consequently, cursory assessment is typical and in-depth evaluation is rare. This paper presents a rationale for and description of PIAS, a computerized instrument analysis system. PIAS…