SPSS exercise 2

SPSS EXERCISE 2: DIRECTIONS CONDUCTING AN INDEPENDENT SAMPLES T-TEST

T-test for independent groups

Step 1: Label Variables. Go to “Variable View” in SPSS and input the following data into SPSS after identifying the variable names. Remember to specify the measure of the variable based on your working knowledge of scales of measurement. Below are step by step instructions along with the data set..

First, input this data into SPSS (this has been modified from an actual data set). Provide a name for each variable that corresponds to the name here. For example, for Skilled Counselor Scale (SCS) Total score, name the variable in SPSS scs_total. This represents the counseling students total score on the Skilled Counselor Scale, that measures 18 different counseling skills. The SCS includes 18 skills and each skills is rated on a Likert scale from 1–5. Trained raters review video recorded counseling sessions and rate counselors on these 18 skills. In order to give you an idea of the types of items on the SCS here is a sample item from the SCS from the first sub-section “Attending Process” which involves nonverbal & verbal attending skills (Smaby & Maddux, 2010):

1. Maintaining Eye Contact —Gazing directly at the client with occasional

breaks.

1 2 3 4 5

(For more information on the SCS see (Smaby & Maddux, 2010).

Step 2: Input the data below in the “Data View.” After inputing the data for the SCS, next input the data for the group variable, identify persons in the control group as 1 and treatment group as 2 (note, this is nominal data). Name this variable, “group.” …. Remember to specify the values for groups under variable view.

Now conduct an independent samples t-test using the data above that you have entered and coded in SPSS. Review the SPSS manual in your assigned text. Attach the ouput/results generated by SPSS and the word document answering the following questions. Also, see the tutorial provided here: http://www.screencast.com/t/y2a7rhcc .

1. What process did you use to arrive at the results (for example >analyze>…).
2. Interpret the results using APA style.