Generalizability Theory: An Explanation, Tutorial, Systematic Review, and Guidelines for Organizational Researchers

Jackson, Duncan J. R., Michaelides, George ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4224-7728, Lam, Winnie Wing Yee and Marcoulides, George (2026) Generalizability Theory: An Explanation, Tutorial, Systematic Review, and Guidelines for Organizational Researchers. Organizational Research Methods. ISSN 1094-4281 (In Press)

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Abstract

Generalizability theory (G theory) was developed by Lee Cronbach and his colleagues as an analytic paradigm for studying measurement structure and reliability. Part of Cronbach’s aim with G theory was to furnish the study of psychometrics with concepts that were, previously, almost exclusively applied to experimental methods. Despite its advantages, G theory is not widely adopted in organizational research. In this paper, we explore reasons why G theory has not been more widely adopted, including a lack of awareness of its capabilities compounded by a sometimes unclearly explained nomenclature. Via tutorial examples complete with annotated code and simulated data, we explain G theory, the problems it can be used to address, and how it can be applied. We round out this instructional knowledge with a systematic review of diverse G theory applications from organizational research. Themes are drawn together from our tutorial examples and lessons learned from research applications with a set of G theory guidelines for organizational researchers. Our aim is to facilitate an understanding of G theory, its effective future application, and to highlight its relevance to increasingly complex organizational data sets.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	generalizability theory,reliability,measurement,4* ,/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/REFrank/4_
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Employment Systems and Institutions
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	03 Nov 2026 10:17
Last Modified:	03 Nov 2026 10:17
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104964
DOI:	issn:1094-4281

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