1. Playing with SPSS: Before Your data collection Francis Duah
Maths Skills Centre,
Academic Support Office

2. Session Outline
Quantitative Data Analysis : What training is available and where?
Advice on independent learning and self-tutoring
Sources of authentic research data
SPSS demonstration and practical exercises

3. Quantitative Data Analysis
Face to face training
PG Statistics workshops at York

4. Quantitative Data Analysis
Self-tutoring and Independent Learning

5. Advice: Play with authentic data
Before you collect your data, “Practise and Practise” using SPSS
Real Datasets
Methodological approach
Design your questionnaire bearing in mind the following:
Ask questions you intend to analyse
Consider how you might analyse the questionnaire

6. Sources of authentic datasets Other
UK Data Service
Census At School - International Project

7. Sources of authentic datasets Other

8. What should your statistical practice entail?
Descriptive Statistical Analysis
Explore nominal and/or ordinal variables using Bar/Pie charts
Explore your data to obtain descriptive statistics of your variables
Explore the distribution of your continuous/interval scale variables
Using charts
Statistical tests

9. What should your statistical practice entail?
Inferential Statistical Analysis
Look for association between nominal variables and/or ordinal variables
Look for differences in mean averages for groups (Between subjects)
in with respect to some continuous variables
Look for differences between the mean average for repeated measurements of continuous variables (Within subjects)

10. What should your statistical practice entail?
Model development
Look for bivariate relationships between continuous/scale variables
Using Pearson correlation
or Spearman correlation
Develop linear models that fit your data
Simple or multiple regression analysis
Linear mixed models

11. Excel Files to Copy Filenames armspan.xlsx heights.xlsx gpapoints.xlsx
exam.xlsx

12. Research Article
Reeves SL, Varakamin C, Henry CJ. The relationship between arm-span measurement and height with special reference to gender and ethnicity Eur J Clin Nutr Jun; 50(6):

13. Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
The relationship between height and arm-span measurement in both sexes and different ethnic groups was studied in order to assess the use of the arm-span measurement as a suitable proxy indicator for height.
SETTING:
School of Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University.
SUBJECTS:
Five hundred and fifty-three subjects (272 male and 281 female) aged 23.3 years (s.d. 5.5).
RESULTS:
Correlation coefficients (r = ) indicated a clear association between arm-span measurements and height in all groups. However, arm-span was found to be significantly different (P < 0.01) from height in two ethnic groups, the Afro-Caribbean's of both sexes and Asian males. This suggests that arm-span measurements may be an inappropriate proxy for height in certain populations.
CONCLUSION:
The arm-span measurement and height relationship is significantly different in Afro-Caribbean and Asian males. This suggests that any future studies attempting to use arm-span measurement as a proxy for height must consider these ethnic differences.

14. Practical – Demonstration 1
Goal: To develop a model for predicting the height of a person
Open the Excel file armspan.xlsx
Obtain Descriptive Statistics of the first seven variables
Differences
Is there a difference between males and females heights?
Is there a difference between males and females arm span?
Look for bivariate relationships between continuous/scale variables
Develop linear regression models for prediction of height.
Which independent variables significantly predict height?

15. Goal To develop a model for predicting the height of a person
Practical – Exercise 1
Goal To develop a model for predicting the height of a person
Open the Excel file heights.xlsx
Obtain Descriptive Statistics of the first seven variables.
Differences
Is there a difference between males and females heights?
Is there a difference between males and females belly buttons height?
Look for bivariate relationships between continuous/scale variables
Develop linear regression models for prediction of height
Which independent variables significantly predict height?

16. Practical – Demonstration 2
Goal To develop a model for predicting the MBA GPA Scores
Open the Excel file gpapoints.xlsx
Obtain Descriptive Statistics of the variables
In relation to height, arm span, and belly button
Is there a difference between males and females mbagpa?
Is there a difference between males and females gmatscore?
Is there a difference between males and females belly degreegpa?
Look for bivariate relationships between continuous/scale variables
Develop linear regression models for prediction of mbagpa.
Which independent variables significantly predict mbagpa?

17. Practical – Demonstration 2
Goal To develop a model for predicting the EXAM MARKS of a person
Open the Excel file exam.xlsx
Obtain Descriptive Statistics of the variables.
Differences
Is there a difference between males and females A-level scores?
Is there a difference between males and females exam results?
Is there a difference between males and females anxiety score?
Is there difference between males and females number of hours of revision?
Look for bivariate relationships between continuous/scale variables
Develop regression models that may be used to predict exam marks
Which independent variables significantly predict exam marks?

18. Take Home Message Practice and practice with authentic research data.
Seek advice from your supervisor.
Consult the Maths Skills Centre at the earliest opportunity.
Attend PG Statistics Workshops without fail.

19. Thank You for Listening
Keep in touch
Francis Duah
Maths Skills Centre,
Academic Support Office