SPSS Exercises

SPSS:

  1. Using the MIDUS2011 data set, state two hypotheses in which life satisfaction (RA1SR1) is the dependent variable and another variable (with no more than five response choices) in the data set is the independent variable (such as unemployment, RA1SG11 or physical health rating, RA1SA1). To get a better idea of what each of the variables is, look for the variable names under the column “name” and a description of the variable under the “label” column. Justify each hypothesis in a sentence or two.
  2. Test both of your hypotheses as follows (after opening the MIDUS2011 file, as explained in Chapter 1, SPSS Exercises):
    1. Click on Analyze/Descriptive Statistics/Crosstabs.
    2. Highlight RA1SR1 and click on the arrow so that it moves into the Rows box; highlight your independent variable and click on the arrow to move it into the Columns box.
    3. Click on Cells, click off Counts-Observed, and click on Percentages-Column.
    4. Click Continue and then OK.
  3. Did you find support for your hypothesis? Describe what you have found.

Online Analysis:

  1. Using the MIDUS2011 data set, state two hypotheses in which life satisfaction (RA1SR1) is the dependent variable and another variable in the data set (with no more than five response categories) is the independent variable (such as unemployment, RA1SG11 or physical health rating, RA1SA1). You can find a description of each of the variables and the response categories using the codebook (described in Chapter 1 Exercises). Justify each hypothesis in a sentence or two.
  2. Test both of your hypotheses as follows (after clicking on the link to the online analysis tool for the MIDUS2011 data set, as explained in Chapter 1, SPSS Exercises):
    1. At the top of the page, click on Analysis > Comparison of means.
    2. Type RA1SR1 into the dependent variable box, and the name of the independent variables (one for each of your hypotheses) you are using into the box labeled “row”  
    3. Under CHART OPTIONS, select “no chart” and check the show means box.
    4. Click “run the table.”
  3. Did you find support for your hypotheses? Describe what you have found.