SPSS Exercises

Although the MIDUS2011 data set is quite large, we can filter and sample the data set to simulate a “small-N” situation. For these exercises, be sure to have the MIDUS2011 data set open.

SPSS

  1. To simulate a “small-N” situation, let’s look at the relationship between income and life satisfaction only among participants who are 40 years old.
    1.  DATA > SELECT CASES > Click the “If” button > Select the RA1PRAGE variable in the left box, and then click the transfer arrow button to move it to the right box. Click the "=" button and then type “40” and click Continue.
  2. Now let’s run our analysis.
    1. ANALYZE > CORRELATE > BIVARIATE
    2. Drag the variables RA1PB16 (income) and RA1SR1 (life satisfaction) over to the “variable” field
    3. Under the Correlation Coefficients heading, check the Pearson box
    4. Click OK.
  3. Describe what you have found. How do you think these results would differ if we had a greater N? You can find out by using the DATA selection procedure in 1a to select “all cases” and then repeating the correlation analysis.

Online Analysis

  1. At the top banner, select Analysis > Correlation Matrix
    1. Type the variables RA1PB16 (income) and RA1SR1 (life satisfaction) into the boxes under “Variables to Correlate”
    2. Type RA1PRAGE(40) into the “selection filters” box
    3. Check to be sure that the box beside “Main statistic to display” says “Pearson correlation”
    4. Choose Run Correlation.
  2. Describe what you have found. How do you think these results would differ if we had a greater N? You can find out by removing the selection filter in 1b and then repeating the correlation analysis.