PSYC 355 Lab Project Overview and Instructions complete solutions correct answers key

PSYC 355 Lab Project Overview and Instructions complete solutions correct answers key

It is very important that students of statistics know how to choose the correct analysis for a given research question, collect the data, run the test, interpret the results, and present them in written form. This lab will require you to apply what you have learned over several weeks in the course, collect data, choose and run the correct analysis, interpret results, and present the findings in a short Results section in current APA style. (Results sections are covered in both of the course texts within each chapter.)

The lab is divided into phases, with certain tasks due at different times throughout the course. It is very important to turn work in on time at each of the due dates, as the later sections of the lab depend on work performed in the earlier sections.

Research Question and Background

An article in the Baptist Message newsletter (Quarles, 8/18/2011) presents selected results of a survey given to entering college freshmen every year at Louisiana College. This instrument measures the orthodoxy of Christian beliefs, or, in other words, how well a person understands the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. Quarles comments that, although many students who take the survey report attending church regularly, the number of students who understand basic Christian doctrine is surprisingly low. In this lab, the intention is to research this issue further by directly examining the following research question: Is there a relationship between frequency of church attendance and the level of understanding of basic Christian doctrine?

Phase 2: Raw Data Scoring

You will collect data from at least 12 people, using a survey that is provided in the Lab Project folder found in the Assignment Instructions folder. This folder also contains documents outlining the instructions regarding anonymity and rights of the participants, as well as how to administer the survey—it is important that you follow these guidelines while collecting data.

The only precondition to participating in the survey is that participants must be at least 15 years old; otherwise, participants can be of any gender, race, religious background, etc. It is important to emphasize that the results of the survey are anonymous by pointing out the instructions at the top of the survey. For your information as a student, the questions on the survey are derived from instruments used in published studies of orthodox Christian beliefs, including Francis, Williams, & Robbins (2010) and Kaldor & Francis (2000). The survey is limited to 10 questions due to length limitations placed by online survey services. Do not add or remove any questions when administering the survey.

Once you have data from at least 12 individuals (you can have more—in fact, the more the better!), you must score the surveys and enter the data into an SPSS file. Directions for scoring the surveys and creating the SPSS file are included under the Lab Project Phase 2 section in the Lap Project folder found in the Assignment Instructions folder.

Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 4.

Phase 3: SPSS Output

Your next job is to choose the type of analysis that best answers the research question based on the type of data available. Hint: Due to the brief nature of the course, the statistical test appropriate for this lab is one that is covered sometime during the first 5 modules/weeks. This will give you enough time to reflect on information you have already learned and run the analysis. More specific directions for the data analysis are included in the Lab Project Phase 3 section in the Lap Project folder found in the Assignment Instructions folder.

To complete this phase of the lab, you must choose the appropriate statistical analysis, run the test using your SPSS data file, and turn in the following:

1.      SPSS output

2.      The appropriate related SPSS graph

Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 6.

Phase 4: APA Results

It is time to present your findings. During this phase, you will write a short Results section in current APA style that presents the results of your statistical test as well as interprets these results in light of the research question. The Results section must be 1–2 paragraphs must include:

1.      The results of your analysis, including the value of the appropriate test statistic, the significance level, and any other pertinent information (sample size, etc.).

2.      Several sentences that interpret these results, including the following information:

·         Were the results significant or not?

·         Do these results lead you to accept or reject the null hypothesis?

·         What are the strengths and weaknesses of the statistical test that was used?

·         Are there any characteristics of the sample or the data collection method that should be taken into consideration when interpreting these results that you would mention briefly to the reader?

Remember that the Results section is not a Discussion section. Therefore, it is NOT the place to make any wide-ranging statements about doctrine in general, how surprised (or not surprised) you are by the results, whether they correspond with other research, etc. You will have a chance in the last phase of the lab to share your thoughts and insights, but remember for this phase that Results sections focus on data. Use the sections in your textbooks as guides concerning content and style. You can also use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association as a guide (if you have one), or visit this website for more guidance: http://web.psych.washington.edu/writingcenter/writingguides/pdf/stats.pdf

Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 7.