SPSS Week 1: Basic Statistical Concepts and SPSS Functions

You will now have the opportunity to become re-acquainted with SPSS, review some of the basic statistics used in Statistics I, and enhance APA format when presenting statistical results.

The following small data set is from a study conducted within a single middle school. Fundamentally, this study is a comparison of the differences between male and female teachers in personal Confidence Scores, and was conducted to determine if a relationship exists between the number of Years of Experience and Confidence Scores.

Using scholarly writing and proper APA format, complete, and then submit the following:

Enter these data into an SPSS data file. Ensure the variables are correctly labeled (nominal, ordinal, scale). Determine what question might be asked related to the Confidence Score of the last person in the data set.

Use SPSS to conduct basic descriptive statistics on the variables (e.g., frequency distribution, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, standard error).

Use SPSS to conduct a t-test to determine if a significant difference exists. Calculate the Pearson’s Correlation between Years of Experience and Confidence Scores.

4. Use SPSS to create a scatter plot of Years of Experience and Confidence Scores.
5. Use scholarly writing and proper APA format to briefly discuss in narrative form, the results of the t-test and the correlation.
6. Use scholarly writing and proper APA format to present a table that clearly depicts several of the descriptive statistics calculated earlier.
7. Use scholarly writing and proper APA format to present a figure that depicting the scatter plot you generated earlier.
8. Include an appendix that contains all SPSS output (copied and pasted) for the items above.

Week 2 Worksheet

SPSS Week 2: Assumptions of Normality and Homogeneity of Variance

You will now address assumptions of normality and homogeneity of variance necessary to determine the appropriateness of using particular statistical tests. Download the data set SPSSexam.sav from this week’s resources. Review both the Data View and the Variable View to obtain a general understanding of the data.

Using the dataset SPSSexam.sav and the Frequency command (found under the Analyze > Descriptive Statistics tabs), calculate the standard descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance, and range) plus skew and kurtosis, and create histograms with the normal curve superimposed for each of the variables Computer, Exam, Lecture, and Numeracy for the entire dataset. Use the P-P plot command (Analyze > Descriptive Statistics tabs) to generate a P-P plot for the Computer Literacy variable. Consult the Fields text for how to superimpose the normal curve.

Using the dataset SPSSexam.sav, determine whether the scores on Computer Literacy (with University as the Fixed Factor) meet the assumption of homogeneity of variance (use Levene’s test Analyze > General Linear Model > (fill in variable window) > Options (Homogeneity Test).

Using scholarly writing and proper APA format, please complete, and then submit the following:

A table that depicts descriptive data for any one of the variables from the data set.

A figure that depicts a histogram for any one of the variables in the data set.

A narrative that provides a response to the following:

From all of the graphs, plots, and descriptive statistics you have generated, what can you conclude about the variables in this data set in relationship to the assumptions of normality and homogeneity of variance?

An appendix that contains all SPSS output (copied and pasted) for the items above.