Correlation Application and Interpretation

Instructions

Complete the followingfor this assignment:

• For this assignment, you will use theData Analysis and Application template(DAA Template [DOC]).
• For help with SPSS, refer to IBM SPSS Step-by-Step Guide: Correlations [DOC].
• For help copying SPSS output into your DAA review theCopy/Export Output Instructions [HTML].
• For information on the data set, you may find the Data Set Instructions [DOC] helpful.
• Refer to the 7864 Course Study Guide for information on analyses and interpretation.

The grades.sav file is a sample SPSS data set. The data represent a teacher's recording of student demographics and performance on quizzes and a final exam across three sections of the course. Each section consists of 35 students (N = 105). There are 21 variables in grades.sav.

This week's assignment is on correlations. You will analyze the following variables in thegrades.sav data set:

SPSS Variable Definition Quiz1 Quiz 1: number of correct answers GPA Previous grade point average Total Total number of points earned in class Final Final exam: number of correct answers Step 1: Write Section 1 of the DAA: The Data Analysis Plan

• Name the four variables used in this analysis and whether they are categorical or continuous.
• State a research question, null hypothesis, and alternate hypothesis for total and final.
• State a research question, null hypothesis, and alternate hypothesis for gpa and quiz1.

Step 2: Write Section 2 of the DAA:Testing Assumptions

Test for one of the assumptions of correlation - normality.

• Create a descriptive statistics table in SPSS to assess normality. This table should include the four variables named above.
• Paste the table in the DAA.
• Interpret the skewness and kurtosis values and how you determined whether the assumption of normality was met or violated.

Step 3: Write Section 3 of the DAA:Results and Interpretation

• Paste the intercorrelation matrix (SPSS Correlation table) for the four variables into the document.
• Below the output, first report the total-final correlation including degrees of freedom, correlation coefficient, and p value. Specify whether or not to reject the null hypothesis for this correlation.
• Second, report the gpa-quiz1 correlation including degrees of freedom, correlation coefficient, and p value. Specify whether or not to reject the null hypothesis for this correlation.

Step 4: Write Section 4 of the DAA:Statistical Conclusions

• Provide a brief summary of your analysis and the conclusions drawn about correlations.
• Analyze the limitations of the statistical test and/or possible alternative explanations for your results.

Step 5: Write Section 5 of the DAA:Application

Analyze how you might use correlations in your field of study.

• Name two variables that would work for such an analysis and why studying the relationship may be important to the field or practice.

Submit your DAA template as an attached Word document in the assignment area.