Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 2025
It is noted that the average inter-item correlation, which represents the internal consistency of a test, yields a unique estimate of test reliability. A close approximation to this average is given by a formula which requires the correlation of each item with the total score and the standard deviation of each item. The formula is especially useful in those instances where the number of items is small and where the variation in item sigmas should not be neglected.
* Edgerton, H. A., and Toops, H.A. A formula for finding the average intercorrelation coefficient for unranked raw scores without solving any of the individual intercorrelations. J. Educ. Psychol., 1928, 19, 131-138.
* Babitz, Milton. Measuring student ability in the application of scientific principles. Unpublished seminar study, University of California, 1939.
* Babitz, Milton. Measuring student ability in the application of scientific principles. Unpublished seminar study, University of California, 1939.
† Kuder, G. F. and Richardson, M. W. The theory of the estimation of test reliability. Psychometrika, 1937, 2, 151-160.