GUIDE TO LAB 1

PART A

To switch between data view and variable view click on the tabs labeled “data view” and “variable view” located at the bottom of the window.

PART B (1) - Sums

1.On the toolbar click on “analyze”.

2.Within the list that opens click on “descriptive statistics”.

3.Another list opens; there you will click on “frequencies”

(See the illustration below)

4.When you click on “frequencies”, a “frequencies” window will pop up.

5.Move the variables that you want to sum into the variable box (click on variable and then use the right arrow button on the screen).

6.Click on the button that says “statistics”.

7.Another window, “frequencies: statistics” will pop up.

8.Click on the sum box.

9.The program returns you to the “frequencies” window.

Hint: turn off the tables in the frequencies command if you just want statistics.

10.Click on “ok”

11.An output window opens. Sums!

12.Repeat as necessary.

PART B (2) – Means, Medians

1.Follow steps 1-7 from Part B.

2.Click on “mean” and “median”

3. Repeat as necessary.

PART C - Histograms

1.On the toolbar click on “graphs”

2.Within the list that opens click on “interactive”

3.Another list opens; there you will click on “histogram”

(See the illustration below)

4.A window, “create histogram” opens.

5.Within the section “assign variables”, place the variable that you want to explore in the box on the x-axis.

6.You can also title your histogram by clicking on the tab “titles”.

7. An output window will open with your histogram.

8. By double-clicking on the histogram a toolbar opens.

9. By clicking on the bars within your histogram you will open a window, “frequencies”

10.Click on interval tool to vary the intervals/bin sizes to get the best description of the pattern.

11. Repeat as necessary.

PART D – Conceptualizing Concentration

1. 1.On the toolbar click on “data”.

2.Within the list that opens click on “select cases”.

3.A window, “select cases” opens.

4.Click on “if conditioned is satisfied”.

5.Click on “if”

6.Set the condition according to what you want to focus upon in the distribution (i.e. pwhite>80)

7.Repeat steps 1-12 from Part B (1) – Sums.

8.Repeat as necessary.

Hints:

a) turn off tables in the frequencies command if you just want summary statistics.

b) use tools from sections A and B to calculate the percentages you can.

c) use lab and SPSS to calculate the rest of the sums you need.

d) use the calculator function in accessories to calculate the percentage for homework.

WHEN IN DOUBT LOOK AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER