I disagree with the statement that the split-half reliability coefficient
is of no use anymore. Coefficient alpha, while being an excellent estimator
of reliability, does have one rather stringent requirement. The items must
be homogeneous. This is not always the case with many kinds of scales, nor
should it be. In many cases homogeneity of item content may lead to reduced
validity if the consruct is too narrowly defined. Screening measures often
have this problem. They need to be short but they also need to be broad in
scope. Internal consistency for such scales would suffer but a split half
procedure, which is much less sensitive to item homogeneity, would fit the
bill nicely.
------------------------------------
Paul R. Swank, PhD.
Advanced Quantitative Methodologist
UT-Houston School of Nursing
Center for Nursing Research
Phone (713)500-2031
Fax (713) 500-2033
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