Descriptive Statistics

Descriptive Statistics: Summarizing your data and getting an overview of the dataset  Why do you want to start with Descriptive Statistics?  Descriptive  Frequencies  Allows us to answer questions like:  What are the trends in my data?  What is my sample population? (e.g., male/female, students, young/old, Freshmen/Sophomore/Junior/Senior, etc.)  Are there any errors in my data?!

Descriptive Statistics Step 1.  “Week1_Descriptives_Examples.sav”

Descriptive Statistics Step 2.  Switch to Data View

Descriptive Statistics Step 3.  “Analyze” then hover over “Descriptive Statistics”

Descriptive Statistics Step 4.  Select the variables you’re interested in  Click on the middle arrow to move them over to the “Variable(s):” column.  Click on “Options” to select additional information for this analysis (see next screen)

Descriptive Statistics Step 5.  Click on “Options” to select additional information for this analysis

Descriptive Statistics Step 6.  In the “Output” window, you will see the result of your analysis.

Descriptive Statistics cont. Frequencies  Frequency distributions are useful to summarizing data such as grades, constructing tables for a paper, and checking for errors (range and limits).  Normally, it is easier to work with a Code that is represented by a Score. For example, the Letter Grade A is a Code that is represented by a score of 4.0. __X ____ f _

Frequencies

Frequencies Step 1.  “Analyze” then hover over “Descriptive Statistics”  Select Frequencies

Frequencies Step 2.  You’ll be at the Frequencies window  Select the “Class” variable that you’re interested in.

Frequencies Step 3.  Click the middle arrow to move it over to the “Variables(s)” column for analysis

Frequencies Step 4.  Click on “Statistics” to select additional information for this analysis (similar to “Options” in Descriptive Statistics)

Frequencies Step 4a. (optional)  Select “Charts” if you want a chart that summarizes the frequency of your desired variable(s) (in this case, “Class”)

Frequencies Step 5.  In the Output window, you will see the following:

Frequencies Step 5a.  Scroll down in the Output window and you’ll also see the chart(s) created.

Frequencies Step 6.  Transferring the Output into a table or your own graph.  Code:  Freshmen = 1 Junior = 3  Sophomore = 2 Senior = 4 __X ____ f _ _ N = 26

The logic behind the stats  You will also need to understand the basic statistical techniques that SPSS uses (In other words, if you had to calculate by hand).

The logic behind the stats  You will also need to understand the basic statistical techniques that SPSS uses (In other words, if you had to calculate by hand).

The logic behind the stats Count how many participant you have N = ? Find the highest score and lowest score in the distribution Range of X to Y (All scores / # of scores) of each column Mean of Age, Height, Weight Count how many Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior you have Frequency Distribution of Class Standing X f