What does Cronbach's alpha assess?

• A. The reliability of repeated measures over time
• B. Internal consistency among items within a test
• C. Validity of test results across different populations
• D. Generalizability of test findings to real-world scenarios

Answer: (B)

Cronbach's alpha evaluates the internal consistency of a test, which refers to how well the items on a test measure the same underlying construct. When you calculate Cronbach's alpha, you are essentially assessing the correlation between different items or questions on a survey or a test to determine if they are all tapping into the same concept or dimension.

A high alpha value indicates that the items have a strong interrelatedness and that respondents tend to answer similarly across those items, which suggests that the test is measuring a single construct reliably. This is crucial in test development, as ensuring internal consistency helps confirm that the results of a test can be interpreted meaningfully.

Thus, option B correctly highlights Cronbach's alpha as a tool for assessing internal consistency, making it essential for ensuring that the test items align well and contribute to the overall measurement accuracy of the intended construct.