PSYC 510
Descriptive Statistics Template
This assignment is worth a total of 50 points.
· Content: point values vary but are indicated in the template and total 40 points.
· Format: point values vary but are indicated in the template for 8 pts. The remaining 2 pts are for placing answers in the correctly designated spots within the template in a clear and easy to read format and uploading it in an approved format (word or PDF). Thus, the maximum is 10 points for format.
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This question is Based on Practice Exercise 1 in the SPSS Workbook Read the example Method, Results, and Discussion sections on p. 201 of your SPSS Workbook to answer the following question: (4 pts content / 1 pt format) |
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Question #2 Click on “Datasets”, open the file called “Reminiscence Study”, and then open the “reminiscence with errors.sav” data file with SPSS. This is real data from a study conducted as part of a class project. However, this file has errors added to the demographic data for the purpose of this practice exercise. · Use SPSS to calculate frequencies for the variables named · Look at the frequency tables in the output to identify the two errors (Hint: it is NOT “Missing System”). · What are the two errors? For each, identify the variable name, the numerical error, and explain how you know it is an error. (2 pts each = 4 pts content) |
<Variable: age
Numerical error: 218.00
Based on the frequency table for age, the value 218.00 stands out as an outlier compared to the rest of the data, which ranges from 18 to 74 It is highly improbable for a participant’s age to be 218 in this context, suggesting it’s likely an error in data entry or processing.
Variable: collegestudent
Numerical error: 22.00.
Based on the frequency table obtained for the variable collegestudent, there is a value of 22.00 present, which does not completely align with the expected categories of yes or no. This suggests an error in data entry or processing, as it’s unlikely for a variable representing college student status to have a numerical value like 22.00.
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Now, calculate the appropriate descriptive statistics for (3 pts per corrected variable = 9 pts content) |
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Question #4 Write a brief description of the age, gender, and college student distribution in the sample as you would in a Participants section of a research report. Be sure you only report the correct information (without errors) and use APA format. (2 pts content per variable = 6 pts content; 2 pt format) |
<age:
The age of participants ranged from 18 to 74 years, with a mean age of 29.6583 years (
SD = 11.72254). The distribution of age appeared slightly positively skewed (skewness = 1.209) and exhibited a moderate degree of kurtosis (kurtosis = .940), suggesting a relatively peaked distribution.
gender:
Among the participants, 50.72% were male and 49.28% were female. The gender distribution in the sample displayed a nearly symmetrical distribution, with a mean gender value of 1.5072 (
SD = .50116). The distribution exhibited negligible skewness (skewness = -.029) and a slightly platykurtic shape (kurtosis = -2.019).
college student status:
Regarding college student status, 50.73% of participants identified as college students, while 49.27% did not. The distribution of college student status mirrored that of gender, with a mean value of 1.5073 (
SD = .50117). The distribution demonstrated minimal skewness (skewness = -.029) and a slightly platykurtic shape (kurtosis = -2.019).
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Question #5 Create an appropriate figure to examine the distribution of age in the sample (make sure both axes titles are in Title Case!). Number it Figure 1 and create an appropriate title. In the Note section, using both a visual inspection of the data and a skewness statistic to discuss whether the distribution is normal. Make sure all components are formatted using APA conventions. (4 pts content / 1 pt format) |
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Use the following information to complete the remainder of the assignment: Click on “Datasets”, open the file called “Academic Honesty Study”. This is real data from a study conducted as part of a class project. Review the file called “academic honesty survey codesheet.pdf” to learn about the variables and codes. Open the data file called “academic honesty.sav” in SPSS. · Use SPSS to calculate the appropriate descriptive statistics to answer the remaining questions (#6 – 9): |
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Question #6 Do most of the participants believe that those who plagiarize should have the opportunity to redo the assignment? (Hint: Find the variable and its label in SPSS that corresponds to the question “The professor should give the student the chance to redo the assignment”. Calculate descriptive statistics for this variable. Using complete sentences and professional conventions, make sure to include descriptive statistics to support your answer. (This can be a single sentence). (3 pts content / 1 pt format) |
<Based on the descriptive statistics obtained for (response) response/redo variable, approximately 25.7% of participants believe that those who plagiarize should have the opportunity to redo the assignment, as indicated by a mean of 0.2566 on the variable corresponding to “The professor should give the student the chance to redo the assignment” in SPSS.>
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Do those who report they have never plagiarized believe that those who do should have the opportunity to redo the assignment? (Hint: Use the “Select if” command to select only those who reported that they have never plagiarized, and then run the same descriptive statistics you did for the previous question). Using complete sentences and professional conventions, make sure to include descriptive statistics to support your answer. (This may be a single sentence). (3 pts content / 1 pt format) |
< Among the subgroup of participants who have never circled the option for redoing the assignment (N = 113), all responses consistently indicate a value of 1.00, with a mean, median, mode, minimum, and maximum values of 1.00, standard deviation and variance of .000, and small standard errors of skewness (.227) and kurtosis (.451), indicating unanimity in not selecting the option for redoing the assignment. >
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Question #8 Do those who identified as undergraduates differ from those who were not currently undergraduates in their belief that those who plagiarize should have the opportunity to redo the assignment? (Hint: Turn off the “Select if” command, then split the file (Data Split File) to compare those who are currently in college to those who are not, and then run the same descriptive statistics as you did above). Using complete sentences and professional conventions, make sure to include descriptive statistics to support your answer. (This may be a single sentence) (3 pts content / 1 pt format) |
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Question #9 What is the distribution of responses to the statement that plagiarism occurs due to “time pressure or stress”? (Hints: 1) undo the Split File from the previous question. 2) Find the variable name and label in SPSS that corresponds to this question). Create a bar chart and label it Figure 2, creating an appropriate title and note. Make sure all components are formatted using APA conventions. (4 pts content / 1 pt format) |
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