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1, Write a summary of your research question
that include your unit of analysis, concepts and variables, and also
your hypotheses.
[to be graded on (1) your
general statement of the research question, correct description of the
(2) unit of analysis, (3) concepts/variables, and (4) hypothesis.
This is the starting of your
data processing journal and your research. Do select your question
carefully.]
2, Do your web search, select a dataset
for your research and download into your computer or file fold. Do a
through web search, and produce
a list of available online datasets suitable to your research. Create a
document to describe your selected dataset that includes number of
cases, variable list, and your assessment of the data quality.
[to be graded on (1) your list
of online datasets, (2) your general description of your selected
dataset (GSS or CSES), correct description of the (3) number of cases,
(4) variable list, (5) quality assessment.
Pay attention to the
relationship between your research question and your selected data set.]
3, Conduct your own data collection
(library work or others) & input the data into computer. Create a
document for this dataset.
[hints: If you use CSES
dataset, go to the library to study UN or World Bank publications. If
you use GSS dataset, interview some people in your group for the same
questions asked by GSS.
Think about the types of your
data and how they are related to your research question.
to be graded on (1) creation of
an additional dataset (small or large does matter), AND your (2)
description of this new dataset, (3) variable list, (4) number of cases,
(5) is your new date qualitative or quantitative. ]
4, Install software and
transfer your datasets to SPSS format. Produce a variable list and
recode 1-2 variables.
[Modify variables to fit your
research needs and prepare to conduct data analysis.
to be graded on (1)
successfully transferred your datasets to SPSS format, (2) a list of all
your variables needed to study your research question, (3) description
of variable name and values of your recoded variables.
Please always remember to
submit your Syntax file.]
5, Conduct your first data
analysis and produce your first report (summarize & visualizing
data, handle missing values, ...)
[Produce descriptive statistics
of all the variables, find missing values and outliners.
Must create a table to
clearly present your results. At the same time, enclose your output and
Syntax files as appendix files.]
6, Conduct your second data
analysis and produce your second report (test your hypothesis, ...)
[Test your hypothesis. Use
Correlation and Crosstabulation or other SPSS procedures.
To be graded on (1) correct
selection of variables for your research hypothesis, (2) correct
selection of correlation index, according to the measurement levels of
your variables, (3) correct selection of your testing methods for your
correlation, (4) good presentation of your results, (5) use of SPSS.
Must create a table to
clearly present your results. At the same time, enclose your output and
Syntax files as appendix files.]
7, Conduct your third data
analysis and produce your third report (merger datasets &
conduct dimensional analysis, ...)
[Produce a dimensional analysis
of your dataset. Use FACTOR Analysis or other SPSS procedures.
You should have 3 or more
variables measuring the same concept. Use methods and procedures learned
to analyze these 3 or more variables. You may want to obtain more
variables from GSS or CSES datasets.
To be graded on (1) good choose of statistical methods, (2) correct selection of SPSS procedures,
(3) good interpretation of SPSS results, (4) good presentation of your
results, (5) relating results to your research question.
Must create a table to
clearly present your results and write a few sentences to explain your
results. At the same time, enclose your output and
Syntax files as appendix files.]
8, Conduct your fourth data
analysis and produce your fourth report (construct a simple casual
model - regression ...)
[Do a regression analysis,
explain causes in your model. Use REGRESSION and SCATTER PLOT in SPSS.
To be graded on (1) correct
choose of regression and plot methods, (2) correct selection of SPSS procedures,
(3) good interpretation of SPSS results, (4) good presentation of your
results, (5) relating results to your research question.
Must create a table to
clearly present your results (intercept, slope, t test and R square) and write a few sentences to explain your
results. At the same time, enclose your output and
Syntax file as appendix files.]
9, Synthesize your four reports,
conduct additional analysis, produce a complete report, and present your research by
using PowerPoint slides and web pages.
[based on your last four
reports to produce a complete report and a short presentation in the PowerPoint slides format AND
web pages.
Your presentation should include FIVE
PowerPoint slides to describe (1) research question (2) results, (3) analysis methods,
(4) datasets, (5) conclusion. Please turn in BOTH your report and your
presentation.
To be graded together with your
presentation on Dec. 4.]
10, Rethink the process and
summarize important stages and the components of your own data process
system.
[put all the pieces together to
assembly your own data processing system. Write a summary describing
your own understanding of the data processing, your own data process system and detailing your own data processing
stages.]
Each week's home
work should be turned into Yuan Li's department mail box
before 5:00pm of the same
Friday.
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