Cronbach's Alpha
A coefficient of internal consistency that estimates how closely a set of scale items measure the same construct, ranging from 0 to 1.
Cronbach's alpha estimates the internal consistency reliability of a multi-item scale, such as a set of Likert-type questions intended to measure one construct. It reflects the average interrelatedness of the items and ranges from 0 to 1, with values around 0.7 or higher conventionally considered acceptable for research use. Alpha rises with more items and stronger inter-item correlations, so a very high value can also signal redundant items.
Alpha assumes the items measure a single underlying construct; if a questionnaire has several subscales, compute alpha for each one separately, and use factor analysis to check the dimensional structure first.
In a thesis that uses questionnaires, reporting alpha for every scale is standard practice in the methodology or results chapter. It shows examiners that your measures were reliable in your own sample, not just in the instrument's original validation.
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