Invited discussion of Cronbach (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16, 297-334 (26,889 citations in Google Scholar as of 1/1/2016)

Abstract

"By far the most cited article in Psychometrika is Lee Cronbach’s famous study of coefficient alpha. I will address four questions: What makes the article special? Why do people cite the article more than other special articles? Was the article also influential beyond psychology? How does alpha fit in present-day psychometrics?"