Final Exam, Part 2 – SPSS and Statistics Take-HomeThis part of the final is worth 100 points
Instructions:
Use the space provided below each question to add/type your responses to the question.
Where requested, you are to insert output from SPSS directly to this exam as part of your
responses. Please understand however that inserting output from SPSS does not constitute a
full presentation of your answer as you are responsible for interpreting the results of your
statistical tests and conveying that interpretation via a written response that explains the
outcome of the test or procedure you have been asked to run.
Submitting your work: Upon completion of this exam, you will submit one SPSS data file (a .sav
file). This file is to be named YOURLASTNAME_Final. You will also submit the file you are
reading right now as you will be adding your responses to this file. Call this file
YOURLASTNAME_Final_Answers.
Advice: Before you “walk” or “run” into bivariate analysis, “crawl” through your data at the
univariate level and pay attention to how all things on all variables are coded.
1. Open the GSS2014_data_for_final.sav file.
2. Produce frequency tables for the following variables: conarmy, conbus, conclerg, coneduc,
confed, confinan, conjudge, conlabor, conlegis, conmedic, conpress, and consci. Each of these
variables relates to one’s degree of confidence in important social institutions in American
society. Each of these items is coded 1 = A great deal, 2 = Only some, and 3 = Hardly any.
Recode all these variables into new variables where current values/data points coded as 1 are
recoded to equal 3, values/data points coded as 2 are recoded to equal 2, and values/data
points coded as 3 are recoded to equal 1. Once accomplished, this recode will allow higher
values to reflect greater confidence in social institutions.
Once all the variables are recoded, produce a frequency table for each of the newly created
recoded variables and insert them below. Be sure you have created new variable and value
labels for your newly created variables. (15 points)
3. Compute a summated index using the newly created 12 variables that you worked with in
question 2. Call this summated index Instit_Confid. Be sure to create appropriate variable and
Final Exam – 1
value labels for the new index. Produce a frequency table and a histogram for the newly
created index and insert both below. Also report the mean, median, mode and standard
deviation for the new index. (10 points)
4. Looking at your newly created Instit_Confid index, you are now to recode it into a new
variable. Recode the index into quartiles (HINT: look at the cumulative percentage column).
Call this new variable Instit_Confid_Quartiles and be sure to create appropriate variable and
value labels for it. Produce a frequency table for the new variable and insert it below. Also
report the mean, median, mode and standard deviation for the new variable. (10 points)
5. Now, take your newly created Instit_Confid_Quartiles variable and compute a new variable
for it but this new variable is only to reflect “Black” and “Other” respondents from the “race”
variable. Call this new variable Instit_Confid_Quartiles_Minority and be sure to create
appropriate variable and value labels for it. Produce a frequency table for the new variable
and insert it below. Also report the mean, median, mode and standard deviation for the new
variable. (10 points)
6. Use the correct bivariate statistical test to examine the relationship between the
Instit_Confid index (the index you created in question 3) and the variable called class
(subjective class identification). What test did you run? In the space provided below, describe
the results and interpret the outcome of the test (10 points).
7. Use the correct bivariate statistical test to examine the relationship between the
Instit_Confid and the sex (i.e., gender) variable. What test did you run? In the space provided
below, describe the results and interpret the outcome of the test (10 points).
8. Use the correct bivariate statistical test to examine the relationship between the
Instit_Confid index and the variable called age (Age of Respondent). What test did you run? In
the space provided below, describe the results and interpret the outcome of the test (10
points).
9. Use the correct bivariate statistical test to examine the relationship between the
Instit_Confid index and the variable called age (Age of Respondent) while controlling for sex
(i.e., gender). What test did you run? In the space provided below, describe the results and
interpret the outcome of the test (10 points).
10. Use the correct bivariate statistical test to examine the relationship between the
Instit_Confid_Quartiles (the variable you created in question 4) and the variable fund (how
fundamentalist is respondent currently). What test did you run? In the space provided below,
describe the results and interpret the outcome of the test (10 points).
11. What statistical test would you employ if you wished to determine whether the mean score
on Part 2 of the final PRS 601 exam for the group of Fall 2019 students differed significantly
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from the known class mean score on Part 2 of the final exam for the several groups of students
who took the course from Fall 2015 to Spring 2019? Write the name of the test below and
explain why you chose that test (5 points).
YOU ARE DONE. Submit your files as requested and enjoy the holiday!
Final Exam – 3
