Application and interpretation of public health data

TOPIC: Introduction to SPSS

SPSS is a software that can conduct basic and complex statistical analyses. In this assignment you will use SPSS to explore the data and conduct descriptive statistics, create frequency charts, recode variables, and create new variables. 

For this assignment, utilize SPSS Statistics and the Topic 2 “Health Behavior Data Set.”

Refer to the topic resources for assistance with accessing and using SPSS.

Follow the steps below to complete the assignment.

Part 1

1. Import the Excel file into SPSS.
2. Sort by age in SPSS to determine the age-range of participants in the data set.
3. Use the Descriptive Statistics Feature in SPSS to find the mean and standard deviation for the      “Age” and “Annual Income.”
4. Use the “Frequencies” feature to create frequency tables for the employed, education level and      sex variables.
5. Recode the sex variable where “Male”=1 and “Female”=2. Create a frequency table for      the new variable.
6. Compute a new “BMI” variable based on “Weight” and “Height.” Use the Descriptive Statistics Feature in SPSS to find the mean and standard deviation for the new BMI variable.

Part 2

In 200-250 words, compare Excel and SPSS. Discuss specific SPSS software features that make it preferable to Excel for data management. Provide examples illustrating when electing to use SPSS could be preferable to Excel in regard to analyzing survey data.

General Requirements

Submit the SPSS exported output and the written comparison to the dropbox.

APA style is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.

STUDY MATERIALS

Read Chapters 6 in Using and Interpreting Statistics: A Practical Text for the Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences.

URL:http://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/macmillan-learning/2016/using-and-interpreting-statistics_a-practical-text-for-the-behavioral-social-and-health-sciences_ebook_3e.php.

Read “Significance,” by Frey, from The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation (2018).

URL: https://methods.sagepub.com/reference/the-sage-encyclopedia-of-educational-research-measurement-and-evaluation/i18904.xml

Read “Chapter 12 Descriptive Statistics,” by McGregor, from Understanding and Evaluating Research: A Critical Guide (2018).

URL: https://methods-sagepub-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/book/understanding-and-evaluating-research/i2843.xml

View “Statistical Significance, the Null Hypothesis and P-Values Defined and Explained in One Minute,” by One Minute Economics (2018), located on the YouTube website.

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb75_GFPD9A&feature=youtu.be

View “SPSS for Beginners 1: Introduction,” by Research Design (2011), located on the YouTube website.

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADDR3_Ng5CA&feature=youtu.be

View the following tutorials from the SPSS Tutorials media.

1. Frequency Tables and Histograms
2. Descriptive Statistics

URL: https://www.gcumedia.com/lms-resources/student-success-center/v3.1/#/media-element/CHSS;CONHCP/1DF486B2-8C58-E811-B595-005056BDD6DE

SPSS Statistics will be used to complete some of the case study assignments for this course. Refer to “Using Citrix Workspace” in the GCU Technical Support Help Center for assistance with installing the Citrix Workspace App and preparing for SPSS files.

URL: https://support.gcu.edu/hc/en-us/articles/201144000-Using-Citrix-Workspace

After Citrix has been installed on your computer, you may access SPSS Statistics at https://myapps.gcu.edu.

View “Introduction to SPSS,” by GCU Academics – Nursing (2020). Use this resource to assist you in completing the topic assignment.

URL: https://www.gcumedia.com/lms-resources/student-success-center/v3.1/#/media-element/CONHCP/62DF3BAF-5A03-EB11-9111-005056BDE9D6