Histograms and Descriptive Statistics

Resources

Histograms and Descriptive Statistics Scoring Guide.
Step-by-Step Guide: Histograms and Descriptive Statistics.
Copy/Export Output Instructions.
Capella Graduate Resources: APA Style and Format.

Your first IBM SSPS assignment includes two sections.

Create two histograms and provide interpretations.

Calculate measures of central tendency and dispersion and provide interpretations.

Key Details and Instructions

Submit your assignment as an attached Word document.

Begin your assignment by creating a properly formatted APA title page. Include a reference list at the end of the document if necessary. On page 2, begin section 1.

Organize the narrative report with your SPSS output charts and tables integrated along with your responses to the specific requirements listed for that assignment. (See the Copy/Export Output Instructions in the Resources area for how to do this).

Label all tables and graphs in a manner consistent with Capella's APA Style and Formatting guidelines. Citations, if needed, should be included in the text as well as a reference section at the end of the report.

For additional help in completing this assignment, refer to the Step-By-Step Guide Histograms and Descriptive Statistics in the Resources area.

Section 1: Histograms and Visual Interpretation

Section 1 will include one histogram of "total" scores for all the males in the data set, and one histogram of "total" scores for all the females in the data set.

Create two histograms using the total and gender variables in your grades.sav data set:

A histogram for male students.

A histogram for female students.

Section 1 will include one histogram of "total" scores for all the males in the data set, and one histogram of "total" scores for all the females in the data set. Below the histograms, provide an interpretation based on your visual inspection. Correctly use all of the following terms in your discussion:

Skew.
Kurtosis.
Outlier.
Symmetry.
Modality.

Comment on any differences between males and females regarding their total scores. Analyze the strengths and limitations of visually interpreting histograms.

Section 2: Calculate and Interpret Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion

Using the grades.sav file, compute descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis for the following variables:

id.
gender.
ethnicity.
gpa.
quiz3.
total.

Below the Descriptives table:

Indicate which variable(s) are meaningless to interpret in terms of mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis. Justify your decision.

Next, indicate which variable(s) are meaningful to interpret. Justify your decision.

For meaningful variables, specify any variables that are in the ideal range for both skewness and kurtosis.

Specify any variables that are acceptable but not excellent.

Specify any variables that are unacceptable. Explain your decisions.

For all meaningful variables, report and interpret the descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis).