Assignment: Central Tendency and Variability

Assignment: Central Tendency and Variability

Understanding descriptive statistics and their variability is a fundamental aspect of statistical analysis. On their own, descriptive statistics tell us how frequently an observation occurs, what is considered “average”, and how far data in our sample deviate from being “average.” With descriptive statistics, we are able to provide a summary of characteristics from both large and small datasets. In addition to the valuable information they provide on their own, measures of central tendency and variability become important components in many of the statistical tests that we will cover. Therefore, we can think about central tendency and variability as the cornerstone to the quantitative structure we are building.

For this assignment, you will examine central tendency and variability based on two separate variables. You will also explore the implications for positive social change based on the results of the data.

• Use the General Social Survey dataset
• http://gss.norc.org/get-the-data
• Use the SPSS software and choose one continuous and one categorical variable

• As you review, consider the implications for positive social change based on the results of your data.

Part 1

Post, present, and report a descriptive analysis for your variables, specifically noting the following:

For your continuous variable:

1. Report the mean, median, and mode.

1. What might be the better measure for central tendency? (i.e., mean, median, or mode) and why?

1. Report the standard deviation.

1. How variable are the data?

1. How would you describe this data?

1. What sort of research question would this variable help answer that might inform social change?

Post the following information for your categorical variable:

1. A frequency distribution.

1. An appropriate measure of variation.

1. How variable are the data?

1. How would you describe this data?

1. What sort of research question would this variable help answer that might inform social change?

Part 2

Write a 2- to 3-paragraph analysis of your descriptive analysis results and include a copy and paste your output from your analysis into your final document.

Based on the results of your data, provide a brief explanation of what the implications for social change might be.

Use appropriate APA format, citations and referencing. Refer to the APA manual for appropriate citation.

Some suggested references to use:

Frankfort-Nachmias, C., & Leon-Guerrero, A. (2018). Social statistics for a diverse society (8th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Wagner, W. E. (2016). Using IBM® SPSS® statistics for research methods and social science statistics (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Wheelan, C. (2013). Naked statistics: Stripping the dread from data. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.