I have a Cronbach alpha .386 this is considered to be unacceptable

The Cronbach's alpha is a measure of internal consistency or reliability of a psychometric scale or test. It ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating greater internal consistency. In general, a Cronbach's alpha value above 0.7 is considered acceptable, while values below 0.7 suggest poor internal consistency.

In your case, since your Cronbach's alpha is 0.386, it falls below the commonly accepted threshold of 0.7, indicating that the items or questions in your scale or test may not be measuring the same underlying construct or trait consistently. This suggests that the reliability or consistency of your measure is low.

To improve the internal consistency, you can consider the following steps:

1. Review your scale or test: Examine the individual items or questions to identify any potential issues. Check for clarity, relevance, and appropriateness of the items in relation to the construct you intend to measure.

2. Remove problematic items: Identify any items that have poor item-total correlations or low factor loadings in factor analysis. These items may be contributing to the low Cronbach's alpha and should be considered for removal from the scale or test.

3. Add new items: If necessary, consider adding new items that align better with the construct you are measuring. These new items should be piloted and tested to ensure their reliability and validity.

4. Increase the number of items: Cronbach's alpha tends to increase with a larger number of items, as long as they are measuring the same construct. Consider expanding the scale or test by adding more relevant and reliable items.

5. Redistribute the response options: Sometimes, low Cronbach's alpha can be due to inconsistent response options or skewed distributions of responses. Ensure that response options are clear, comprehensive, and balanced.

6. Seek expert advice: Consult with experts in the field of psychometrics or measurement to get their perspectives and suggestions on improving the internal consistency of your scale or test.

Remember, improving Cronbach's alpha requires careful consideration and validation to ensure that the revised scale or test effectively measures the intended construct reliably.