SPSS Exercise

SPSS Exercise

This piece of coursework is classified as being a practical skills assessment.  The purpose of the assignment is to focus on how well you perform specific practical skills with the SPSS software, and to test your level of understanding about the quantitative data analysis process.  You are required for this assignment to:

Please see additional comments from the student in red.

Your Task:

Design a questionnaire, and then using SPSS, input, analyse and interpret your own quantitative data. This report should not exceed 1500 words (+/-10%).

Since the questionnaire and coding scheme provided by the student already covered 560 words, the write should carefully consider how you write up about each test and step.

This report is essentially a workbook exercise that requires you to FULFIL each of the 8 tasks requested, provide EVIDENCE of these having been completed, and show UNDERSTANDING of the quantitative data analysis process, through your write up of the test results and findings.

The work should be independent and your own.  Group work is not permitted at any stage of this assessment.  To help you in this process, you are required to complete the following 8 steps:

Design a questionnaire
Include at least six questions that would be suitable for analysis by SPSSNote: Some of the questions should result in categorical and ordinal data and some in cardinal data (open and closed questions) and adding a not applicable question would demonstrate deeper understanding
Create a coding scheme
Include a copy of the coding scheme in the submission
*Provided by student
Construct an SPSS file
Input data from at least 150 responses to the questionnaire *data file provided by student Include the data itself, variable and value labels and missing cases (see SPSS handbook for guidelines)
Run a frequencies command
Conduct on at least four appropriate variablesInclude the output tables in the submissionExplain what the output tables show
Run a descriptive command
Conduct on all appropriate variablesInclude the output table in the submissionExplain what the output tables show        
Run a Chi-Square test
Identify a suitable independent and dependent variableInclude the cross-tab table and test statistics in the submissionExplain what the output/results showConsider validity and significance level
Recode a variable (e.g. cardinal data) into appropriate categories
Give an explanation as to why you selected the categories chosenInclude a frequency output table for the recoded variable   Comment: question no. 1 will be used since this is the only cardinal data.  
Using this new variable perform another chi-square test
Identify a suitable independent and dependent variableInclude the cross-tab table and test statistics in the submissionExplain what the output/results showConsider validity and significance level

 

Assessment format

For this assessment you should prepare a word document that demonstrates your practical skills with SPSS and illustrates depth of knowledge about the subject area. 

This assessment has a 1500-word limit. Therefore, you must carefully consider how you write up about each test and step. It is strongly advised that you do annotate each stage and each test, as this will illustrate a deeper level of understanding. 

If you choose to draw on additional resources, then the document should be fully and appropriately referenced using the Harvard system of referencing, with citing in the text of the sources of evidence to support your arguments. This includes giving the specific page number of direct quotes. You must include at the end a full and accurate list of references used and consulted. 

 

Assessment criteria

Marks are awarded out of 100.  For further details on the assessment of key graduate attributes and skills (i.e. assessed skills elements) and related criteria, please refer to the accompanying feedback sheet.  In addition, the work must:

  • Be presented to a good standard and word-processed to the following specification: 1.5 spaced, a minimum of 11 font size and bound by a single staple
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of SPSS
  • Show an ability to analyse, synthesise, evaluate and manipulate quantitative data

The failure to present the work in the form specified above will result in marks being lost.  Remember, you need to ensure that you include evidence for all of the steps listed above.  Failure to include a specific aspect (e.g. the questionnaire or the coding scheme) will result in significant marks being lost.

Practical Skills Assessment: SPSS Exercise (40%) Feedback Sheet

Student number …………………………………………………………………..

(Please note, all sections are not equally weighted)

Questionnaire Design (LO1) /10
Not included / Poor –  errors apparent – no design thought Basic – errors apparent – little design thought Adequate  – odd error apparent Good  – error free Detailed\original – open\closed questions
Coding Scheme (LO1 & LO3) /10
Not included / completed Errors evident Basic understanding Clear understanding – not always error free Excellent understanding – error free
Data input (LO1 & LO3) /5
Not completed Error in files Error free – data untidy Error free – correctly labelled Error free with missing values
Frequency test (LO1, LO2 & LO3) /15
Not included / Inappropriate variables used Attempted but errors in tables Largely correct – some misinterpretation Correct tables – lacking explanation Correct – fully understood and explained well
Descriptive test (LO1, LO2 & LO3) /15
Not included / Inappropriate variables used Attempted but errors in understanding Largely correct – some misinterpretation Correct – lacking explanation Correct – fully understood and explained well
Chi-square test 1 (LO1, LO2 & LO3) /15
Not included / completed Attempted –  errors throughout Largely correct – some misinterpretation Correct – lacking explanation Correct – fully understood and explained well
Recode (LO1 & LO3) /10
Not included / completed / collapsed instead Attempted –no explanation Largely correct – some misinterpretation Correct – lacking explanation Correct – fully understood and explained well
Chi-square 2  (LO1, LO2 & LO3) /15
Not included / completed Attempted –  errors throughout Largely correct – some misinterpretation Correct – lacking explanation Correct – fully understood and explained well
Format /5
Limited compliance Acceptable compliance Average compliance Good compliance Full compliance
Additional comments         Overall Mark     /100

Criteria

In deciding a mark, a judgement in terms of the assessed skill elements and the following criteria were made. A sample of the assessments is doubled marked.  Assignments will, in the main, demonstrate the following aspects:

80+                     A unique and distinctive questionnaire, error free coding scheme and the data file includes missing/not applicable values.  Descriptive and frequency tables are fully explained.  Correct recode with clear justification.  Chi-square tests are correct and well explained, commenting accurately on validity.  All aspects of the brief have been well executed.

70-79                 A detailed and original questionnaire with mix of open and closed questions, correct coding scheme, error free files and correct descriptive and frequency results. Correct recode and Chi-square test. Full description and justification of test results are given.  The problems with empty cells in chi-square are understood. All of assessed skills were demonstrated fully.

60 – 69               A good, error free questionnaire. Correct recode and analysis but weaker justification/understanding of tests. Most assessed skills were well demonstrated.

50 – 59               Basic questionnaire and odd error apparent. The analysis             is largely correct but weaker explanations of tests were given / the assessment lacks correct understanding of tests. Assessed skills were demonstrated to a reasonable level.

40 – 49               The exercise was attempted but errors are evident in files, recoding and/or explanations. Weaker questionnaire that gives little thought to design and creativity.  Some assessed skills may have only been partially demonstrated, but on balance represents an overall pass level.

Under 40          A fundamental error in understanding / performing SPSS or sections of the assessment (e.g. recode and / or chi-squared) were not completed. Assessed skills only partially or are not demonstrated.

If you have not understood parts of this exercise or feel that you need some extra explanation to understand where you went wrong or how to improve, please make an appointment with a member of the module team.  

SPSS Exercise Assessed Learning Outcomes
LO1 Knowledge and Understanding How well you demonstrated a good understanding of the requirements of the brief (e.g. questionnaire design, statistical tests)
LO2 Cognitive/Intellectual skills How well you demonstrated your ability to analyse, synthesize and evaluate the information
LO3 Practical Skills How well you were able to manipulate SPSS and present the information effectively

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