The effect of N on alpha is minimal unless the assumptions for alpha are not met. If you have a multidimensional construct then the alpha will tend to go down as the sample size decreases. At leaset I have observed this in monte carlo analyses.
At 12:08 PM 2/28/01 +0100, you wrote:
>How is Cronbach's alpha affected by the sample size apart from questions
>related to generalizability issues?
>
>Ifind it hard to trace down the mathmatics related to this question
>clearly, and wether there migt be a trade off between N of Items and N
>of sujects (i.e. compensating for lack of subjects by high number of
>items).
>
>Any help is appreciated,
>
>Thanks, Nico
>--
>
>
>=================================================================
>Instructions for joining and leaving this list and remarks about
>the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES are available at
> http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/
>=================================================================
>
------------------------------------
Paul R. Swank, PhD.
Professor & Advanced Quantitative Methodologist
UT-Houston School of Nursing
Center for Nursing Research
Phone (713)500-2031
Fax (713) 500-2033
================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list and remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES are available at http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ =================================================================
