TY - JOUR
T1 - Inducing score reliability from previous reports
T2 - An examination of life satisfaction studies
AU - Vassar, Matt
AU - Ridge, Jason W.
AU - Hill, Aaron D.
PY - 2008/5
Y1 - 2008/5
N2 - The sample specific nature of reliability is often overlooked in substantive research, with investigators frequently referencing reliability estimates from previous studies as the basis for presuming the score integrity for their data. The purpose of the current study was to examine this practice, known as reliability induction, across studies using a popular life satisfaction (LS) measure, the Satisfaction with Life Scale. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, yielding a final sample of 196 studies using the instrument. Fifty-two studies involving 76 samples induced reliability coefficients from other sources. These studies were coded in terms of sample characteristics and variability estimates to derive comparisons in these two areas between the induced reports and the original studies. Results suggest that none of the studies inducing reliability had sufficient justification for induction. It was also found that estimating reliability coefficients for the data in hand has increased relative to induced reports and studies omitting reliability information. Practical implications for substantive researchers are discussed and suggestions for additional research are provided.
AB - The sample specific nature of reliability is often overlooked in substantive research, with investigators frequently referencing reliability estimates from previous studies as the basis for presuming the score integrity for their data. The purpose of the current study was to examine this practice, known as reliability induction, across studies using a popular life satisfaction (LS) measure, the Satisfaction with Life Scale. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, yielding a final sample of 196 studies using the instrument. Fifty-two studies involving 76 samples induced reliability coefficients from other sources. These studies were coded in terms of sample characteristics and variability estimates to derive comparisons in these two areas between the induced reports and the original studies. Results suggest that none of the studies inducing reliability had sufficient justification for induction. It was also found that estimating reliability coefficients for the data in hand has increased relative to induced reports and studies omitting reliability information. Practical implications for substantive researchers are discussed and suggestions for additional research are provided.
KW - Life satisfaction
KW - Reliability induction
KW - Satisfaction with life scale
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=57749133035&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11205-007-9157-8
DO - 10.1007/s11205-007-9157-8
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:57749133035
SN - 0303-8300
VL - 87
SP - 27
EP - 45
JO - Social Indicators Research
JF - Social Indicators Research
IS - 1
ER -