Chapter Sixteen Starting the Data Analysis Winston Jackson and Norine Verberg Methods: Doing Social Research, 4e

2© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Analyzing Data with a Computer Requires statistical software program Appendix A provides guidelines for using Statistical Package for the Social Science, known simply as SPSS See textbook for step-by step instructions on using SPSS for Windows (Version 10-14) Labs are available with this text to provide additional learning activities for students using SPSS

3© 2007 Pearson Education Canada 2. Rules for Data Entry A. Creating a raw data file (Syntax file in SPSS) 1. Give each case an ID number. Number questionnaires or data-collection forms, starting with 001 (or 0001 if more than 1000 cases) on the top right-hand corner. The ID number is used to link questionnaire with data in case errors are found 2. Code any uncoded questions Any open-ended questions or occupational prestige scores that need to be looked up should be assigned values

4© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Rules for Data Entry… cont’d 3. Do a column count This will identify position where each variable will be entered VariableColumns ID1-3 Record #4 Blank5 Gender6 Yr of Birth7-8

5© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Rules for Data Entry… cont’d 4. Enter data with a partner Fewer errors with help of another person 5. Note new page with blanks Errors can be more easily identified if you leave a blank to mark the new page of the questionnaire On Figure 16.7 (next slide), it is evident that there is an error on the fourth line Can go back to case 004, and re-enter data from page 2

6© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Figure 16.7 Data with Blanks Between Questionnaire Pages PFO Figure 16.7, Data with Blanks Between Questionnaire Pages, from page 429

7© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Rules for Data Entry… cont’d 6. Simplify missing value codes Where possible use a 9, 99, or 999 to indicate situations where a respondent refused to answer a question. When something is left out but it means zero, use a zero. In 9-point Likert scales use the 0 to indicate a missing question.

8© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Rules for Data Entry… cont’d 7. Document research decisions If a response is in doubt (two numbers circled, two answers when only one was asked for), flip a coin to determine which response will be taken circle in red and write your initials next the decision

9© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Rules for Data Entry… cont’d 8. Code for information not on questionnaire When more than one person is coding un- coded data, it is a good idea to enter a code for each data entry person; in interviews code the interviewers. If systematic differences occur one can then quickly identify whose questionnaires belong to which person 9. Use double data entry Can be done to find errors

10© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Rules for Data Entry… cont’d 10. Save the data If entered in SPSS, save it as an.sps file To do so, SPSS will ask if you want to save the file, when you click yes, it is saved as an.sps file 11. Check for errors Check for errors prior to data analysis E.g., using O (letter) instead of 0 (zero)

11© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Rules for Data Entry… cont’d B. Point-and-click Raw Data Entry Click on File/New/Data Move cursor to the cell you wish to start with (the cell will be highlighted) and enter the data for each variable, moving across the row The value will show on the screen

12© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Rules for Data Entry… cont’d i.To insert a new case Position the cursor on the case below where you want to insert the new case On the toolbar, click Data/Insert case ii. To insert a new variable Position the cursor on the variable following the spot where you want to insert the new variable On the toolbar, click on Data/Insert variable Enter data for all the cases

13© 2007 Pearson Education Canada 3. Creating & Saving an SPSS.SAV file For modest to large surveys Use Syntax Editor to enter commands to define variables, attach labels, and indicate missing value codes To begin, Click File/New/Syntax To process commands, Click on Run See sample syntax file in Box 16.1 (next slide) For small surveys (10-15 variables) Use point-and-click direct-entry method To begin, Click File/New/Data (see p )

14© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Box 16.1 PFO Box 16.1, Sample syntax commands to create an SPSS system file, from page 433

15© 2007 Pearson Education Canada 5. Steps in Analyzing Project Data 1. Run and print FREQUENCIES (nominal & ordinal variables) and DESCRIPTIVES (ratio variables) Keep for future reference & reporting results 2. Use RELIABILITY and COMPUTE commands to construct indexes 3. Select appropriate procedures for analysis May need to RECODE some variables (create a new variable by adding the letter r to the name of the original variable)

16© 2007 Pearson Education Canada 5. Steps in Analyzing Data (cont’d) 4. Run analysis for intervening or source of spuriousness models (see Chapter 17) 5. Create Summary Tables (see Chapter 18) 6. Write your report using appropriate headings (see Chapter 18)

17© 2007 Pearson Education Canada 6. The 3 M Approach 3M is a way to remember how to decide which procedure to use to analyze relationships M odel: >X  >Y M easurement: Nominal, Ordinal, Ratio M ethod: (choice depends on level of measurement; see Table 8.18, next slide) CROSSTABS MEANS CORRELATIONS

18© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Appropriate Method of Analysis by Level of Measurement (from inside front cover) Appropriate Method of Analysis by Level of Measurement (from inside front cover) PFO Table from inside from cover of text (also appears as Table 8.18 in Chapter 8, Appropriate Method of Analysis by Level of Measurement (from inside front cover)

19© 2007 Pearson Education Canada 7. Getting Errors and Warnings If you are using the Syntax method of entering SPSS commands, expect to get errors and warnings when running SPSS jobs SPSS has error checking routines that help you identify the error immediately Tips on detecting errors 1. Expect errors Normal part of data analysis

20© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Tips on detecting errors 2. Examine error and warning messages carefully The character or symbol creating the problem will be listed 3. Make certain SPSS is accessing the necessary file 4. Fix first error first Fix the first error(s) and re-run the job; may correct all other errors or warnings

21© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Tips on detecting errors 5. Stuck? Re-enter the command line Sometimes we cannot see an error (e.g., O (capital letter) instead of 0 (number) [as in v1O versus v10] Just re-enter the line, and run again 6. Examine results on screen before sending to a printer Sometimes we make mistakes that are obvious when we see them (meant to use a re-coded variable for a Crosstab, but used ratio level variable by mistake)

22© 2007 Pearson Education Canada Tips on detecting errors 7. Double check variable list Make sure you are using the appropriate variable; this is particularly important when you have done recodes for variable 8. Check for a premature FINISH command Forgetting to remove/move a FINISH command when editing a syntax file would result in the part of the job appearing before the finish command being run. Make sure it’s at the end of the file.