Statistical Analysis Using SPSS, Essay Example

Use the dataset provided on Blackboard to conduct a statistical analysis of the relationship between two variables of your choice. CHOOSE one variable to be your “cause” (independent variable) and one to be your “effect” (dependent variable). Model your analyses after the in-class demonstration.

Please ANSWER the following questions about your analysis. Your answers should total at least 1½ pages in length, including your table. Please remember to follow the other formatting guidelines set forth in the syllabus.

What are the mean, range (or minimum and maximum), and standard deviation of your independent variable?

In this analysis, I am examining the times used marijuana in public (independent variable) on importance of college to respondent (dependent variable).  The mean for the independent variable is 1.79; the minimum value is 1- the maximum value is 3.  The standard deviation is .811.

Please write a sentence interpreting the mean you computed for question 1. That is, tell me what this number means in words (e.g., tell me how old the respondents are on average, the percentage of respondents who are male, how important the average respondent feels college is, or whatever is appropriate for your variable). To do this you will probably need to examine the value labels.

The independent variable is a scaled variable: the mean could be interpreted as the average respondent in this survey has marijuana at least once.  The interpretation of this variable is complicated by the fact that it is not a continuous variable- thus the scale must interpreted to the “average” individual.

What are the mean, range (or minimum and maximum), and standard deviation of your dependent variable?

The mean for the importance of college is 3.94.  The minimum was 1; the maximum was 5.  The standard deviation was 1.428.

Present a contingency table for your chosen variables. If the table that SPSS gives you is cluttered or difficult to read you should retype it. Be sure to place the independent and dependent variables in the correct places. Clearly label the rows and columns and include an informative title for your table. Do not simply copy the table title that SPSS gives you. Write a better one (see Chapter 11 for examples).

Individuals who have smoked Marijuana more than once (generally) hold the opinion that college is less important compared to individuals that have not smoked Marijuana who (generally) hold the opinion that college is more important.

Describe the relationship between your two variables. What pattern, if any, do you see in your table?

There is not a particularly discernible pattern to the data, but it would seem that those who have never done marijuana give a higher importance to college; those who have done marijuana more than once give a lower importance to college.

State the null hypothesis for your chi square analysis.

The null hypothesis is that there is not a correlation between the times used marijuana (independent variable) and importance of college to the respondent (dependent variable).

State your chi square results (use the Pearson Chi-Square given in the SPSS output). Is your relationship statistically significant? If so, at what level?

There is a negative correlation between the two variables.  That is with an increase in times used marijuana, there is a decrease in the importance of college to the respondent.  Although the negative correlation is not necessarily robust (-.217); the relationship is significant at the .001 level.