The purpose of this instructional piece was to provide a nontechnical synthesis of common internal consistency reliability estimates used in professional counseling and in related fields. The article begins with an overview of coefficients alpha, omega, omega hierarchical, and H, with guidelines for their selection. Next, I provide recommendations…

Problem Statement: Among individuals aged 12 years or older, 14.3% (40.0 million) reporting the use of an illicit drug in the previous year. Given the prevalence of drug abuse, it is increasingly important to determine effective screening practices, treatment procedures, and best practices among various subpopulations to identify drug use-related…

We describe best practices in reporting reliability estimates in counseling research with consideration to precision, generalization, and diverse populations. We provide a historical context to reporting reliability estimates, the limitations of past practices, and new methods to address reliability generalization. We highlight best practices…

Intercoder reliability can increase trustworthiness, accuracy, rigor, collaboration, and power sharing in qualitative research. Though not every qualitative design can utilize intercoder reliability, this article highlights how positivist qualitative research, community-based participatory research, and participatory evaluation all strengthen when…

The purpose of this article is to discuss reliability and precision through the lens of a modern measurement approach, item response theory (IRT). Reliability evidence in the field of counseling is primarily generated using Classical Test Theory (CTT) approaches, although recent studies in the field of counseling have shown the benefits of using…

This study aimed to provide meta-analytic reliability information of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). We implemented systematic search procedures to 35 eligible studies (N = 23,247; Mage = 26.74 years) that reported reliability estimates. The synthesized average values of Cronbach's alpha were 0.88 (95% CI [0.85, 0.92]) for the…

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Hope-Action Inventory (HAI) scores with a problematic substance use population (N = 783). The hierarchical seven-factor structure of the HAI fit the data well. Further, the HAI scores had satisfactory internal consistency reliability and good convergent evidence for validity.

This study aims to identify the mean alpha coefficients of the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS-5) and examine the moderator role of trauma type and study location. We included studies using the CPSS-5 and reporting a Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Our analysis of 27 studies (k = 31) revealed a mean alpha coefficient of 0.91 for the CPSS-5. Mean…

Objective: The purpose of this study was to begin developing and validating an instrument to measure self-trust in adults. Method: Using a multi-phased and mixed methods approach to instrument development, the RSTI scores were tested across three samples reflecting national demographics of adults in the United States (n = 157, n = 692, n = 261).…

Objective: Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS) is the most widely used instrument to assess self-control. The purpose of this reliability generalization meta-analysis was to examine the degree to which consistency reliability coefficients for scores on the BSCS generalize across age groups and languages. Method: We included studies using the BSCS and…

Objective: This study sought to examine the factor structure, internal consistency, and measurement invariance of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) among older sexual minority women with disabilities. Method: Participants (n = 208) consisted of sexual minority women aged 55 and…

Internal validity and measurement invariance of the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms-62 item (CCAPS-62) was examined via confirmatory factor analytic models among autistic (n = 1,268) and non-autistic (n = 3,776) college students. Findings reviewed the CCAPS-62 had a strong model fit and was invariant across groups.

Psychometric characteristics of CESD-R scores were explored on a sample of 966 undergraduate students. Internal consistency ([alpha] = 0.92), external convergent and discriminant validity, and response bias were adequate to excellent. Strong measurement invariance was evident for gender and race comparisons, and the unidimensional model fit the…

The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) has an extensive history of use that often relies on inductions of reliability from precedent literature. We completed a systematic review of the literature and extracted sample-specific reliability estimates for ProQOL subscale scores. Random effects meta-analytic modeling was implemented to…

We evaluated the psychometric properties of the Trauma Informed Practice Scales -- School Counseling Programs Version scores using item response theory with a sample of 270 school counselors. Participants ranged in age from 24 to 69 years (M = 42.82, SD = 9.96). Participants identified as female (81.5%), male (14.1%) or unreported (4.4%,).…