Basics of SPSS Assignment

 Overview

In this short task you are going to log into SPSS, create specific variables, code the variables correctly given the types of each variable, input data, and run descriptive statistics to demonstrate your ability to do these basic essentials of data entry, refinement, and analysis.  You will submit your output and the data file to Dropbox.

Step-by-Step Tasks

  • Log into the virtual server
  • Start up the SPSS program
  • Create a new/blank data sheet
  • Create the variables listed below and code them appropriately for the following columns in Variable View: (a) Name, (b) Type, (c) Label, (d) Values, and (e) Measure – you can do the others if you would like but they are not required
  • Input the data on the second page
  • Run descriptive statistics overall
  • Run descriptive statistics after splitting the data file by chosen major (Major)
  • Create a graph that you think is helpful in presenting some relevant descriptive statistics and a short one paragraph (max) narrative explaining the visual and what it represents regarding your data set.

 

Variables to Include

You will create variables for each of the following types of information:

 

Name – the participant’s name

Gender – the participant’s biological sex

Race – the participant’s race

(Options: American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic, White, Other)

High School GPA – the participant’s GPA from their high school transcript

AP Credits – the number of AP credits earned by the participant during high school

Freshman Year GPA – the grade point average of the student during their first full year on campus

Major – the participant’s selected major

(Options: History, English, Computer Science, Biology, Education, Other)

Logic Training – the participant’s experience in taking courses/training in logic offered by the university as part of their first year encouraged opportunities

(Options: Lots, Some, None)

 

** Hint: in SPSS your “Name” category cannot use spaces so you have to code each variable and are encouraged to use the “label” category to specific exactly what the variable is **

 

Submission Requirements

  • Create a Word document that includes copied output data for tasks #6, 7, and 8 in an organized fashion
  • Save your dataset and submit it (this will be a type “SPSS Statistics” .sav file)

 

Name Gender Ethnicity HS GPA AP Credits Freshman GPA Major Logic Training
Akbar M Black 2.78 0 3.20 Comp Sci None
Benito M Hispanic 2.99 0 2.80 Education None
Chan M Asian 4.00 9 4.00 History Lots
Danisha F Black 3.62 3 3.60 Other Lots
Everly F White 3.65 9 3.20 Education None
Fred M White 3.22 0 2.00 English None
Gabriel M Hispanic 3.31 0 3.45 Biology Some
Heather F White 3.40 0 2.25 Education None
Ian M White 3.12 0 3.25 History Some
Juanita F Hispanic 2.67 0 3.40 English Lots
Kyeong F Asian 3.87 9 3.40 Education None
Larry M White 3.15 0 1.60 Comp Sci None
Meredith F White 3.65 6 4.00 Education Some
Naomi F Black 3.20 3 1.75 English None
Olivia F White 3.33 0 3.30 History Some
Paddington M White 3.10 0 3.20 Comp Sci Some
Quinton M Black 2.95 0 3.55 Comp Sci Lots
Rachel F White 3.55 0 4.00 Biology Some
Sampson M White 2.90 0 3.10 History Some
Tomas M Hispanic 2.75 0 3.60 Comp Sci Lots
Uther M White 3.70 6 3.60 Biology None
Victoria F Asian 3.65 6 3.55 Other Some
Wilma F White 3.08 0 3.15 Biology Some
Xerxes M Amer Ind 2.75 0 3.80 Comp Sci Lots
Yolanda F Hispanic 3.72 6 3.00 Education None
Zachariah M White 3.68 3 3.60 Other Some