Research guideliness

Complete the following assignment by filling in all pertinent areas of research.  You will need to utilize SPSS for this assignment.  You may complete this assignment using the variables and topic which you have chosen for your Final Portfolio Project.  You will then be able to follow this as a guide as well as a check-point with your instructor.  It is essential that you read through all of the feedback regardless of your score.  You will be required to submit an SPSS output file with this assignment for credit.  However, you must copy and paste all relevant output data into this document for credit.  Throughout the assignment you will see places where your tables, charts, and graphs can be placed. 

You may need to go back through the document to address formatting issues that may shift as you begin to input your data.  Points will be deducted for sloppiness.  Please treat this as a professional outline used for a proposal.  Use a different, but legible, color font for your responses.

This assignment is to completed and submitted no later than the Sunday of week 3 by 11:55pm ET.  This assignment is worth 60 points.  Save the word file as follows [your last name_SOCI332_A1] and submit it to the dropbox for feedback.

Note: 

This course has “Resubmission” status enabled to help you if you realize you submitted an incorrect or blank file, or if you need to submit multiple documents as part of your Assignment.  Resubmission of an Assignment after it is graded, to attempt a better grade, is not permitted.

Grading Rubric

 

Exemplary

Accomplished

Developing

Beginning

Did not Attempt

Research Question and Variables

 

6 points

Student provides measurable research question and accurately lists independent and dependent variables

 

6 points

Student provides a research question and lists independent and dependent variables. Some clarification may be needed

 

5.1 points

Student provides research question that is not measurable or provides variables that are inaccurately listed as independent and dependent

 

4.5 points

Research question or variables are missing

 

3.9 points

No research question and variables identified.

 

0 points

GSS data

 

6 points

Provides detailed explanation GSS participants, population represented, funding, and data collection.

 

6 points

Explains GSS participants, population represented, funding, and data collection.

 

Identifies GSS variables and levels of measurement correctly. Presents complete variable info from the GSS. Minor inaccuracy. 

5.1 points

Explains GSS participants, population represented, funding, and data collection.  Some detail lacking, more development needed. Minor inaccuracy.

 

Identifies the variables correctly, levels of measurement, and presents some variable data from the GSS.  Some corrections needed.

 

4.5 points

Explains GSS participants, population represented, funding, and data collection with inaccuracies. Significant detail lacking, more development needed.

 

Identifies the variables- some may be inaccurate or missing.  Levels of measurement may be inaccurate or missing.

 

3.9 points

Explanation of GSS data not included.

 

0 points

Description of variables

 

12 points

Includes detailed and accurate variable name, respondent question, and level of measurement

 

12 points

Includes an accurate variable name, respondent question, and level of measurement

 

10.2 points

Includes variable name, respondent question, and level of measurement. May be incomplete, or lack accurate explanation.

 

9 points

Includes variable name, respondent question, and level of measurement.  If provided, they are inaccurate with inaccurate explanation. 

 

7.8 points

Does not include variable name, respondent question, and level of measurement.

 

0 points

Frequency tables

 

6 points

Includes accurate frequency table.  Rich, detailed summary of findings in 1-2 paragraphs citing numbers to support conclusion.

 

6 points

Includes frequency table.  Includes summary of findings.  May or may not cite numbers to support conclusion.

 

5.1 points

Includes frequency table- there may be some inaccuracies.  Summary of findings may be inaccurate or may not cite numbers to support conclusion.

 

4.5 points

Frequency table inaccurate.  Summary of findings inaccurate. One of these elements may be missing.

 

3.9 points

Frequency table and summary not included.

 

0 points

Graphs and Charts

 

6 points

Includes accurate  graph/chart for each variable.  Rich, detailed summary of findings in 1-2 paragraphs citing numbers to support conclusion.

 

6 points

Includes graph/chart for most variables.  Includes summary of findings.  May or may not cite numbers to support conclusion.

 

5.1 points

Includes graph/chart for most variables- there may be some inaccuracies.  Summary of findings may be inaccurate or may not cite numbers to support conclusion.

 

4.5 points

Graph/chart inaccurate or not provided for most variables.  Summary of findings inaccurate. One of these elements may be missing.

 

3.9 points

Graph/chart and summary not included.

 

0 points

Use of statistical techniques

 

12 points

Accurately applies two of the statistical techniques to investigate the topic more deeply.  Summary is detailed and accurate.

 

12 points

Attempts to apply two of the statistical techniques to investigate the topic more deeply. Tests may not be completely accurate.  Summary is detailed and may have inaccuracies.

 

10.2 points

Accurately applies one of the statistical techniques to investigate the topic more deeply.  Summary is detailed and accurate.

 

9 points

Attempts to apply one of the statistical techniques to investigate the topic more deeply. Test may not be completely accurate.  Summary is detailed and may have inaccuracies.

 

7.8 points

No attempt to use statistical techniques to investigate topic more deeply.

 

0 points

Crosstabulation table

 

12 points

Includes accurate crosstabulation tables for each variable.  Provides accurate and detailed overview of bivariate analysis.

 

12 points

Includes accurate crosstabulation tables for most variables.  Provides accurate and detailed overview of bivariate analysis.

 

10.2 points

Includes accurate crosstabulation tables for most variables.  Overview of bivariate analysis has minor inaccuracies.

 

9 points

Crosstabulation tables not provided for most variables .  Overview of bivariate analysis has inaccuracies.

 

7.8 points

Crosstabulation table(s) not included.  Overview of bivariate analysis not included.

 

0 points

Assignment 1: Research Guidelines

Complete the following assignment by filling in all pertinent areas of research.  You will need to utilize SPSS for this assignment. You can find sample information from Week 1 lesson and GSS website. You may complete this assignment using the variables and topic which you have chosen for your Final Portfolio Project.  You will then be able to follow this as a guide as well as a check-point with your instructor.  It is essential that you read through all of the feedback regardless of your score.  You will be required to submit: 

1. An SPSS output file with this assignment for credit;

2. This word document with blanks filled and SPSS outputs inserted.  Throughout the assignment you will see places where your tables, charts, and graphs can be placed.  

You may need to go back through the document to address formatting issues that may shift as you begin to input your data.  Points will be deducted for sloppiness.  Please treat this as a professional outline used for a proposal.  Use a different, but legible, color font for your responses.

This assignment is to completed and submitted no later than the Sunday of week 3 by 11:55pm ET.  This assignment is worth 60 points.  Save the word file as follows [your last name_SOCI332_A1] and submit it to the dropbox for feedback. 

(A) My Purpose (research question) (5 pts)

My research questions is: __________________________________________________-_____. To achieve this goal, I investigate how ____________________ (enter here what your Independent Variables measure) affects _______________ (enter here what your Dependent Variable measures)

(B) All About GSS 2012 data (5 pts) 

1. Who are the participants? ___________________________________________________________________________

2. What population does the sample represent?  ¬¬¬¬-___________________________________________________________________________

3. Who is funding the research? ___________________________________________________

4. When was the data collected? __________________________________________________

5. How was my data collected? ___________________________________________________

(C) Variables (you have expected to have only one DV and a minimum of one IV. (10 pts)

My IV(s): if you have multiple IVs, provide information for EACH IV using the format below. 

IV Variable name in SPSS: ___________________

IV Question (as asked to the respondent verbatim) __________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IV Answer categories: ___________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IV Level of Measurement___________________

My DV: only ONE DV is required for your final portfolio

DV variable name in SPSS:  ______________________________

DV Question (as asked to the respondent verbatim)- __________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DV Answer categories: _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DV Level of Measurement: ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬__________________________

(D) Frequency Tables (10 pts) 

Run frequencies for each variable listed above.  Summarize your findings in a paragraph or two below.  Cite numbers in the frequency tables to support your conclusion. Be sure to insert your tables over into this document.

[Insert SPSS frequency tables here] 

(E) Graphs and Charts (10 pts)

Run the appropriate graphs/charts for each of your variables listed above.  Summarize your findings briefly in a paragraph or two.  Cite numbers in the graph/charts to support your conclusion. Include a title on each of your charts and other pertinent labels you feel necessary.  

[Insert SPSS graphs/charts here] 

(F) Choose two of the following techniques (10 pts)   

Choose two of the following statistical techniques to investigate the issue/topic you are considering in more depth. Summarize your findings and copy/paste all relevant output data here in this file.

• Option 1: Running measures of central tendency and dispersion

[Insert SPSS output here] 

• Option 2: Recoding 

[Insert the following items: SPSS syntax for the recoding process; the frequency table for the original variable; and the frequency table for the recoded variable]  

• Option 3: Index construction

[Insert the following items: SPSS syntax for the index construction procedure; the frequency table for the original variable(s); and the frequency table for the index variable]  

(G) Crosstab Table(s) (10 pts)

Outline a research hypothesis regarding your variables.  List below: (if you have two IVs, you need to have two sets of hypotheses using the following format) 

Research hypothesis:  _________________________________________________________________

Null hypothesis: ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬-______________________________________________________________________

Create a crosstab table with the variables that you have chosen.  If you have two IVs, you need to have two separate crosstabs. Be sure that column percentages are included in the table. Please provide a detailed overview of your bivariate analysis, 

Your DV, _________________________, will go into the ROW.

Your IV, _________________________, will go into the COLUMN.

[Paste crosstab table(s) here]

Present your findings here in a paragraph or two.  As part of it, address whether your research hypothesis is correct.  Compute the epsilon and explain.

: Does religion affects people's opinions on euthanasia? These two variables - relig16 and letdie1 - will be the variables