, PYC4807 EXAM PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT 3
DUE DATE: 5 OCTOBER 2026
QUESTION 1:
1(a) Type of reliability
Reliability refers to the consistency and dependability of a psychological assessment
measure. A reliable instrument should produce consistent results when it measures the
same psychological construct under appropriate conditions. For the Utrecht Work
Engagement Scale-Student (UWES-S), internal consistency reliability is particularly
important because the questionnaire contains several items intended to measure related
dimensions of student engagement.
The UWES-S measures three dimensions of student engagement, namely vigour,
dedication and absorption. Vigour refers to students' energy and mental resilience while
studying, dedication relates to enthusiasm, pride and significance attached to one's studies,
while absorption refers to being fully concentrated and deeply involved in academic
activities (Brand et al., 2025). The recent South African validation study assessed internal
consistency using both Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's omega (ω). These are
appropriate indicators of whether items within each dimension consistently measure the
same underlying construct (Brand et al., 2025).
Internal consistency is important because a questionnaire cannot be considered
dependable if its individual items do not work together to measure the intended construct.
The use of both alpha and omega also provides a stronger assessment of reliability than
relying on a single coefficient.
1(b) Findings and interpretation
Brand et al. (2025) investigated the psychometric properties of the UWES-S among 2 434
university students from three campuses of a South African university. The
researchers found that the Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients for the
three-factor UWES-S were above 0.70, which indicates acceptable internal consistency.
DUE DATE: 5 OCTOBER 2026
QUESTION 1:
1(a) Type of reliability
Reliability refers to the consistency and dependability of a psychological assessment
measure. A reliable instrument should produce consistent results when it measures the
same psychological construct under appropriate conditions. For the Utrecht Work
Engagement Scale-Student (UWES-S), internal consistency reliability is particularly
important because the questionnaire contains several items intended to measure related
dimensions of student engagement.
The UWES-S measures three dimensions of student engagement, namely vigour,
dedication and absorption. Vigour refers to students' energy and mental resilience while
studying, dedication relates to enthusiasm, pride and significance attached to one's studies,
while absorption refers to being fully concentrated and deeply involved in academic
activities (Brand et al., 2025). The recent South African validation study assessed internal
consistency using both Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's omega (ω). These are
appropriate indicators of whether items within each dimension consistently measure the
same underlying construct (Brand et al., 2025).
Internal consistency is important because a questionnaire cannot be considered
dependable if its individual items do not work together to measure the intended construct.
The use of both alpha and omega also provides a stronger assessment of reliability than
relying on a single coefficient.
1(b) Findings and interpretation
Brand et al. (2025) investigated the psychometric properties of the UWES-S among 2 434
university students from three campuses of a South African university. The
researchers found that the Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients for the
three-factor UWES-S were above 0.70, which indicates acceptable internal consistency.
