tab_fa()-function: Cronbach`s alpha changes if 'sort =T' vs 'sort=F'

[njheimbach]

I noticed that the Cronbach's alpha (CA) values change while using the tab_fa()-function when sort=F or sort=T (i.e. true or false). From my understanding CA estimates the internal consistency within a factor. Therefore the CA values should not change if you change only the order of the items since the assignment of an item to a factor stays the same.

I checked with another (public) data-sample and the same issue happened. The code I used for the public data and to demonstrate the issue is the following:

install.packages("brolgar")
library(brolgar)

pisa_data <- as.data.frame(pisa)
pisa_data_example <- pisa_data[,c(3:9)]
pisa_data_example <- na.omit(pisa_data_example)

sjPlot::tab_fa(pisa_data_example ,rotation = "oblimin", method = "pa", nmbr.fctr = 2, sort = F)
sjPlot::tab_fa(pisa_data_example,rotation = "oblimin", method = "pa", nmbr.fctr = 2, sort = T)