Using the MIDUS2011 data set, let’s see what different respondent characteristics are correlated with life satisfaction.

SPSS

1. ANALYZE > CORRELATE > BIVARIATE
   
   1. Drag the variable RA1SR1 (life satisfaction) and two or three additional independent variables that are quantitative (such as depression--B4QCESD or perceived stress--B4QPS_PS) (or dichotomous such as gender--B1PGENDER) over to the “variable” field
   2. Under the Correlation Coefficients heading, check the Pearson box
   3. Hit OK
2. Interpret your results. Which of the variables, if any, are correlated with life satisfaction? How strong, and what is the direction of these correlations? What does the p value tell us?

Online Analysis

1. Analysis > Correlation Matrix
   
   1. Type the variable RA1SR1 (life satisfaction) and two or three additional independent variables that are quantitative (such as depression--B4QCESD or perceived stress--B4QPS_PS) (or dichotomous such as gender--B1PGENDER) into the boxes under “Variables to Correlate”
   2. Check to be sure that the box beside “Main statistic to display” says “Pearson correlation”
   3. Click “Run Correlation.”
2. Interpret your results. Which of the variables, if any, are correlated with life satisfaction? How strong, and what is the direction of these correlations? What does the p value tell us?