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Overestimation of Internal Consistency by Coefficient Omega in Data Giving Rise to a Centroid-Like Factor Solution

Karl Schweizer et al.

Educational and Psychological Measurement2025https://doi.org/10.1177/00131644241313447article
ABDC A
Weight
0.41

Abstract

Coefficient Omega measuring internal consistency is investigated for its deviations from expected outcomes when applied to correlational patterns that produce variable-focused factor solutions in confirmatory factor analysis. In these solutions, the factor loadings on the factor of the one-factor measurement model closely correspond to the correlations of one manifest variable with the other manifest variables, as is in centroid solutions. It is demonstrated that in such a situation, a heterogeneous correlational pattern leads to an Omega estimate larger than those for similarly heterogeneous and uniform patterns. A simulation study reveals that these deviations are restricted to datasets including small numbers of manifest variables and that the degree of heterogeneity determines the degree of deviation. We propose a method for identifying variable-focused factor solutions and how to deal with deviations.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00131644241313447

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@article{karl2025,
  title        = {{Overestimation of Internal Consistency by Coefficient Omega in Data Giving Rise to a Centroid-Like Factor Solution}},
  author       = {Karl Schweizer et al.},
  journal      = {Educational and Psychological Measurement},
  year         = {2025},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00131644241313447},
}

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Evidence weight

0.41

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.25 × 0.4 = 0.10
M · momentum0.55 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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