STATISTICS ASSIGNMENT

Activity #1

You will submit one Word document for this activity. You will create this Word document by cutting and pasting SPSS output into Word.

Activity #1 consists of two parts. In the first part, you will utilize an existing dataset to compute a factorial ANOVA. All SPSS output should be pasted into your Word document. In the second part, you will be asked to create a hypothetical ANCOVA output table (for variables related to your area of interest).

Part A. SPSS Activity

The "Activity 5a.sav" file contains a dataset of a researcher interested in finding the best way to educate elementary age children in mathematics. In particular, she thinks that 5th grade girls do better in small class sizes while boys excel in larger classes. Through the school district, she has arranged a pilot program in which some classroom sizes are reduced prior to the state-wide mathematics competency assessment. In the dataset, you will find the following variables:

Participant: unique identifier

Gender: Male (M) or Female (F)

Classroom:

Small (1) - no more than 10 children

Medium (2) - between 11 and 19 children

Large (3) - 20 or more students

Score - final score on the statewide competency assessment.

In Activity #1, do the following:

Exploratory Data Analysis.

a. Perform exploratory data analysis on all variables in the data set. Realizing that you have six groups, be sure that your exploratory analysis is broken down by group. When possible, include appropriate graphs to help illustrate the dataset.

b. Give a one to two paragraph write up of the data once you have done this.

c. Create an APA style table that presents descriptive statistics for the sample.

2. Factorial ANOVA. Perform a factorial ANOVA using the "Activity 5a.sav" data set.

a. Is there a main effect of gender? If so, explain the effect. Use post hoc tests when necessary (or explain why they are not required in this specific case).

b. Is there a main effect of classroom size? If so, explain the effect. Use post hoc tests when necessary (or explain why they are not required in this specific case).

c. Is there an interaction between your two variables? If so, using post hoc tests, describe these differences.

d. Is there support for the researcher's hypothesis that girls would do better than boys in classrooms with fewer students? Explain your answer.

e. Write up the results in APA style and interpret them. Be sure that you discuss both main effects and the presence/absence of an interaction between the two.

Part B. Applying Analytical Strategies to an Area of Research Interest

3. Briefly restate your research area of interest.

Analysis of Covariance. Using your area of interest, identify one dependent variable and two independent variables such that the independent variables would likely be covariates. Now assume you conducted an ANCOVA that shows both the first independent variable as well as the covariate significantly predicts the dependent variable. Create a mock ANCOVA output table (see SPSS Output 11.3 in your text for an example) that supports the relationship shown above. Report your mock finding APA style.