Latent structureScale / measurement

Ordinal Cronbach's Alpha

Ordinal Cronbach's alpha is a reliability coefficient computed from polychoric or polyserial correlations rather than Pearson correlations, making it appropriate for Likert-type and other ordinal item response data. It corrects the systematic downward bias that standard Cronbach's alpha produces when items are treated as continuous but are actually ordinal.

Open in MethodMindSoonVideoSoon

Read the full method

Members only

Sign in with a free account to read this section.

Sign in

Sources

  1. Zumbo, B. D., Gadermann, A. M., & Zeisser, C. (2007). Ordinal versions of coefficients alpha and theta for Likert rating scales. Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods, 6(1), 21–29. DOI: 10.22237/jmasm/1177992180
  2. Gadermann, A. M., Guhn, M., & Zumbo, B. D. (2012). Estimating ordinal reliability for Likert-type and ordinal item response data: A conceptual, empirical, and practical guide. Practical Assessment, Research and Evaluation, 17(3), 1–13. DOI: 10.7275/n560-j767

Related methods

Referenced by

ScholarGateOrdinal Cronbach's Alpha (Ordinal Cronbach's Alpha). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/psychometrics/ordinal-cronbachs-alpha