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An EasyGuide to Research Design & SPSS
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An EasyGuide to Research Design & SPSS

Second Edition
February 2018 | 312 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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An EasyGuide to Research Design and SPSS® is an essential resource for students to successfully navigate and complete research projects. Using a clear, concise, and conversational writing style, authors Beth M. Schwartz, Janie H. Wilson, and Dennis M. Goff cover all of the most basic and common designs and analyses that students need to know for appropriately testing a hypothesis. The handbook includes step-by-step instructions accompanied by ample screenshots for working with data in SPSS®, along with guidance on interpreting outputs and formatting results in APA style. The Second Edition features a streamlined organization, updated references, and new content on factorial designs, effect size, and G*Power. 

 



 
Preface
 
About the Authors
 
SECTION I. OVERVIEW OF BASIC DESIGN DECISIONS
 
1. The Marriage of Stats and Methods: ’til Death Do They Part
We Want to Help

 
Basic Steps of Research

 
Summary

 
 
2. Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, or Ratio: Why Your Type of Data Really Does Matter
Nominal Data

 
Ordinal Data

 
Interval Data

 
Ratio Data

 
Summary

 
 
3. Designing Your Hypothesis: To KISS (Keep It Simple, Student) or to Complicate Matters
How Many Variables Should I Include?

 
How Many Participants Should I Include?

 
How Many Independent Variables Should I Include?

 
Including More Than One Independent Variable

 
Choosing the Number of Levels of Each Variable

 
Choosing Your Dependent Variables

 
Avoiding the Unmeasurable Dependent Variables

 
How Many Dependent Variables to Include

 
Summary

 
 
SECTION II. YOUR BASIC SPSS TOOLBOX
 
4. Why SPSS and Not Other Software, Your Calculator, Fingers, or Toes
 
5. Handling Your Data in SPSS: Columns, and Labels, and Values . . . Oh My!
The Structure of SPSS

 
When to Create Your Data File: Yes, Even Before Data Collection

 
Setting Up Your Data File

 
Importing Data

 
Naming and Labeling Your Variables

 
How to Keep Track and Remember the Details of Your Data File

 
Creating New Variables in Your Data File: Transformations

 
Calculating a Total or Mean Score

 
Recording Variables

 
Conducting Analyses With Only Part of Your Collected Data: Split File and Select Cases

 
Summary

 
 
6. Descriptive Statistics: Tell Me About It
Describing Nominal Data

 
Describing Ordinal Data

 
Describing Interval or Ratio Data

 
Describing Data With Two Samples

 
Summary

 
 
SECTION III. DESIGNS, STATISTICS, INTERPRETATION, AND WRITE-UP IN APA STYLE
 
7. Between-Groups Designs: Celebrate Your Independence!
One IV, Two Levels

 
Between Groups With Two Levels of an IV

 
Independent-Samples t-Test With a Quasi-IV

 
Between Groups With More Than Two Levels of an IV

 
Between Groups With More Than One IV

 
Summary

 
 
8. Repeated-Measures Designs: Everybody Plays!
One Independent Variable With Two Levels

 
Expanding the Number of Levels for Your Independent Variable

 
Adding Another Factor: Within-Subjects Factorial Designs

 
Summary

 
 
9. Advanced Research Designs: Complicating Matters
Mixed Designs: One Between Variable and One Repeated-Measures Variable

 
A Multivariate Design: Measuring It All Including More Than One Dependent Variable in Your Design

 
ANCOVA

 
Summary

 
 
10. Correlational Analysis: How Do I Know If That Relationship Is Real?
Correlational Analysis: Two Variables

 
Prediction With Two Variables: Simple Linear Regression

 
Prediction With Several Variables: Multiple Linear Regression

 
Summary

 
 
11. Chi Square: Staying on the Same Frequency
What Do You Expect?

 
One-Way Chi Square With More Than Two Levels

 
Two-Way Chi Square

 
Summary

 
 
12. How Many Participants Do You Need? More Power to You!
Finding Power in SPSS’s General Linear Model

 
Using G*Power to Find Power

 
Planning Sample Sizes for Your Future Research

 
Summary

 
 
SECTION IV. A SUMMARY
 
13. Mapping Your Decisions: You Can Get There From Here
Making Basic Decisions About Your Design

 
Data With Distinct Groups

 
Interval or Ratio Data With Many Levels

 
Summary

 
 
14. APA Results Sections
t-Test for Independent Samples (True IV)

 
t-Test for Independent Samples (Pseudo-IV)

 
One-Way ANOVA for Independent Groups (True IV)

 
t-Test for Correlated Samples

 
One-Way ANOVA for Correlated Groups (Repeated Measures)

 
Factorial ANOVA for Correlated Groups (Repeated Measures)

 
Factorial ANOVA for Mixed Groups

 
Factorial ANOVA for Independent Groups

 
Analysis of Covariance

 
Pearson’s r Correlation

 
Pearson’s r Correlation and Simple Regression

 
One-Way c2

 
Two-Way c2

 
 
15. Frequently Asked Questions: Did I Do That?
Questions About Research Design

 
Questions About Analyzing Your Data

 
Questions About Interpreting Your Data and Presenting Your Results

 
Summary

 
 
Glossary
 
Index
 
References

An excellent practical guide for education research.

Dr Jim Nichols
School Of Education, Nyack College
December 21, 2018
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Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION: 

  • New Decision Trees help students understand the connection between research designs and statistical analyses.
  • A new chapter on factorial designs facilitates use of this common design at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
  • A new chapter on effect sizes meets the needs of publications and faculty who often require this statistical analysis of data.
  • Step-by-step instructions explain how to use G*Power.
  • New screenshots provide visual details to clarify steps and procedures.
KEY FEATURES: 
  • A student friendly writing style serves to inform readers without the use of other sources to understand terms and concepts.
  • A Glossary defines terms that readers may not already be familiar with to ensure comprehension.
  • Straightforward content makes the text ideal for new students as well as those wishing to re-familiarize themselves with the basics of research design and statistical analysis.

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