TY - JOUR
T1 - Coefficient Beta and Hierarchical Item Clustering: An analytical Procedure for Establishing and Displaying the Dimensionality and Homogeneity of Summated Scales
AU - Cooksey, R.W.
AU - Soutar, Geoff
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Summated scales are widely used in management research to measure constructs such as job satisfaction and organizational commitment. This article suggests that Revelle's (1979) coefficient beta, implemented in Revelle's (1978) ICLUST item-clustering procedure, should be used in conjunction with Cronbach's coefficient alpha measure of internal consistency as criteria for judging the dimensionality and internal homogeneity of summated scales. The approach is demonstrated using ICLUST reanalyses of sample responses to Warr's (1990) affective well-being scale and O'Brien, Dowling, and Kabanoff's (1978) job satisfaction scale. Coefficient beta and item clustering are shown to more clearly identify the homogeneity and internal dimensional structure of summated scale constructs than do traditional principal components analyses. Given these benefits, Revelle's approach is a viable alternative methodology for scale construction in management, organizational, and cross-cultural contexts, especially when researchers need to make defensible choices between using whole scales or subscales.
AB - Summated scales are widely used in management research to measure constructs such as job satisfaction and organizational commitment. This article suggests that Revelle's (1979) coefficient beta, implemented in Revelle's (1978) ICLUST item-clustering procedure, should be used in conjunction with Cronbach's coefficient alpha measure of internal consistency as criteria for judging the dimensionality and internal homogeneity of summated scales. The approach is demonstrated using ICLUST reanalyses of sample responses to Warr's (1990) affective well-being scale and O'Brien, Dowling, and Kabanoff's (1978) job satisfaction scale. Coefficient beta and item clustering are shown to more clearly identify the homogeneity and internal dimensional structure of summated scale constructs than do traditional principal components analyses. Given these benefits, Revelle's approach is a viable alternative methodology for scale construction in management, organizational, and cross-cultural contexts, especially when researchers need to make defensible choices between using whole scales or subscales.
U2 - 10.1177/1094428105283939
DO - 10.1177/1094428105283939
M3 - Article
SN - 1094-4281
VL - 9
SP - 78
EP - 98
JO - Organizational Research Methods
JF - Organizational Research Methods
IS - 1
ER -