Question

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 the grades.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 one X-Y pair. For example, you could articulate a research question, null hypothesis, and alternate hypothesis for quiz1 (X) and final (Y).

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.

• First, report the lowest magnitude correlation in the intercorrelation matrix, including degrees of freedom, correlation coefficient, and p value.

• Specify whether or not to reject the null hypothesis for this correlation.

• Second, report the highest magnitude correlation in the intercorrelation matrix, 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 an independent variable and dependent variable that would work for such an analysis and why studying it may be important to the field or practice.

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