Synopsis
Data Analysis with SPSS is designed to teach students how to explore data in a systematic manner using the most popular professional social statistics program on the market today. Written in ten manageable chapters, this book first introduces students to the approach researchers use to frame research questions and the logic of establishing causal relations. Students are then oriented to the SPSS program and how to examine data sets. Subsequent chapters guide them through univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, graphic analysis, and multivariate analysis. Students conclude their course by learning how to write a research report and by engaging in their own research project. Each book is packaged with a disk containing the GSS (General Social Survey) file and the States data files. The GSS file contains 100 variables generated from interviews with 2,900 people, concerning their behaviors and attitudes on a wide variety of issues such as abortion, religion, prejudice, sexuality, and politics. The States data allows comparison of all 50 states with 400 variables indicating issues such as unemployment, environment, criminality, population, and education.Students will ultimately use these data to conduct their own independent research project with SPSS.
From the Back Cover
According to Labor Secretary, Robert Reich, the most successful workers in the 21st century will be those who are able to understand various forms of information and produce meaning from it. Reich calls these people symbolic analysts, and they often use statistics. Yet, many individuals find statistics alienating, boring, intimidating, or as simply another hurdle to get over. Contrary to popular belief, though, quantitative research can be fun. This book is designed to help readers develop an appreciation, and hopefully an excitement, for quantitative inquiry. This book first orients readers to the approach researchers use to frame research questions and to the logic of establishing causal relations. Thereafter, the SPSS program is introduced. Readers are guided through examining data sets, univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, graphic analysis, and multivariate analysis. Two large data sets are included with the book. Anyone using SPSS, the statistics program for social science research.
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