Spss Homework Psyc 421 SPSS Assignment Part 1 Instructions Describing a Normative Sample When it comes to the use of psychological tests, one approach that both researchers and clinicians take in trying to understand participants’ performance is a norm-referenced approach. With a norm-referenced test, the test is given to a large, representative group of participants known as the “normative sample” (a.k.a. “norm group”). Then, the scores of all subsequent test-takers are compared to the scores of the norm group. In order for the norm group to be a valid comparison group, it has to be representative of the population who will be taking the test. So how do we know if the normative sample is representative? When summarizing the psychometric properties of a test, test developers and publishers usually describe the norm group with their demographic variables. Demographic variables are characteristics of the participants like: gender, age, ethnicity, relationship status, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation etc. A description of the normative sample allows examinersto decide if the test of interest can be used with their intended examinees. For example, if the normative sample were 95% male, then you likely could not logically compare their scores to females test takers! That is why readers need to know what the normative sample looks like. The purpose of the current assignment is for you to provide a verbal (and graphical)description of a fictional normative sample of research participants. In the Assignment Instructions folder, there is an SPSS data file that will be the basis for your analyses. The data provided are fictional and were created solely for the purposes of our SPSS assignments. This data file includes: 1) demographic information for a normative sample of 428 participants, and 2) participants’ scores on a test called the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D scale). The CES-D Scale is utilized to measure symptoms of depression. It is a self-assessment that is completed by the individual. The CES-D contains 20items rated on a 4-point scale (0 = Rarely or None of the Time to 3

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Spss Homework Psyc 421
SPSS Assignment Part 1 Instructions
Describing a Normative Sample
When it comes to the use of psychological tests, one approach that both researchers and
clinicians take in trying to understand participants’ performance is a norm-referenced
approach. With a norm-referenced test, the test is given to a large, representative group of
participants known as the “normative sample” (a.k.a. “norm group”). Then, the scores of
all subsequent test-takers are compared to the scores of the norm group. In order for the
norm group to be a valid comparison group, it has to be representative of the population
who will be taking the test.
So how do we know if the normative sample is representative? When summarizing the
psychometric properties of a test, test developers and publishers usually describe the norm
group with their demographic variables. Demographic variables are characteristics of the
participants like: gender, age, ethnicity, relationship status, socioeconomic status, religious
affiliation etc. A description of the normative sample allows examinersto decide if the test
of interest can be used with their intended examinees. For example, if the normative
sample were 95% male, then you likely could not logically compare their scores to females
test takers! That is why readers need to know what the normative sample looks like.
The purpose of the current assignment is for you to provide a verbal (and
graphical)description of a fictional normative sample of research participants.
In the Assignment Instructions folder, there is an SPSS data file that will be the basis for
your analyses. The data provided are fictional and were created solely for the purposes of
our SPSS assignments. This data file includes: 1) demographic information for a
normative sample of 428 participants, and 2) participants’ scores on a test called the
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D scale).
The CES-D Scale is utilized to measure symptoms of depression. It is a self-assessment
that is completed by the individual. The CES-D contains 20items rated on a 4-point scale
(0 = Rarely or None of the Time to 3 = Most or All of the Time). The phrase “During the
past week…” prefaces the questions in order to emphasize current depressive mood.
Scores on the total scale are summed and can range from 0 to 60. Traditionally, individuals

2. Influence of Economics on
Household Decision Making
Grading Guide
ECO/561 Version 12
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with scores over 16 are identified as “depressed” (Weissman, et al., 1977), though due to
high false positive rates, a score of 27 is considered a more useful cut-off (Zich, et al.,
1990). The full scale can be accessed at: https://nts122.chcr.brown.edu/pcoc/cesdscale.pdf.
Items 4, 8, 12, and 16 are worded in reverseto avoid response set (i.e., “yay-saying” or
“nay saying”). The CES-D includes four subscales—depressive affect, well-being,
somatic, and interpersonal—that assess specific features of depressive symptomology.
Several studies have validated the four subscales across a variety of subgroups (Hertzog et
al., 1990; Knight et al., 1997).
With this first SPSS assignment, you will learn how to go from raw demographic data to
describing a normative sample in an APA-formatted reportJ
For this assignment, you will:
1. Calculate descriptive statistics and create appropriate graphs for three (3) of the
demographic variables presented in the SPSS data file.
2. Create a table (or tables) showing the most appropriate descriptive statistics for the
three (3) demographic variables that you chose. The descriptive statistics that you report
will depend on the type of variables that you have selected (categorical vs. continuous).
Be sure to format your table headings according to current APA guidelines.
3. Create the most appropriate graphs for the three (3) variables that you selected.
Again, the graphs that you present will depend on the type of variables that you have
selected (categorical vs. continuous). Be sure to format your figure captions according to
current APA guidelines.
4. Write a verbal summary. This summary section will include 2 elements:
a. First, describe the normative sample based on the descriptive statistics that you
calculated for the three demographic variables that you chose. See the sample assignment
posted in Bb for guidance on how to describe the sample.
b. Second, explain why it is an ethical imperative for us, as Christians doing
research/clinical work, to describe and evaluate the demographic characteristics of the
sample we are using as a comparison group for other test takers. Include in your rationale
a discussion of the issue of representativeness, as well as at least one scriptural
citation that supports your line of reasoning.
Be sure to carefully review the Grading Rubric posted in the Assignment Instructions
folder so that you know exactly what is expected of you when completing this assignment.
This assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 2.
References

3. Influence of Economics on
Household Decision Making
Grading Guide
ECO/561 Version 12
3
Hertzog, C.; Van Alstine, J.; Usala, P.D.; Hultsch, D.F.; &Dixon, R. (1990). Measurement
properties of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in older
populations.Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical
Psychology, 2(1), 64-72. doi: 10.1037/1040-3590.2.1.64
Knight, R. G., Williams, S., McGee, R., & Olaman, S. (1997). Psychometric properties of
the
Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in a sample of women in
middle life. Behavior, Research, and Therapy, 35(4), 373–380.doi:10.1016/S0005-
7967(96)00107-6
Weissman, M. M., Sholomskas, D., Pottenger, M., et al. (1977). Assessing depressive
symptoms in five psychiatric populations: a validation study. American Journal of
Epidemiology, 106, 203–214.
Zich, J. M., C. C. Attkisson, & Greenfield, T.K. (1990). Screening for depression in
primary care clinics: the CES-D and the BDI. International Journal of Psychiatry and
Medicine, 20(3), 259–277.
Answer Preview
There are several of the demographic variables are present in the considered dataset. To
make my life easy I choose the easiest three variables which are “Age” “Gender” and
“Ethnicity”.
Note that here age is a quantitative variable thus the usual descriptive statistics and
histogram of box plot would be most appropriate for age.
On the other hand the Gender and Ethnicity are qualitative variables (nominal scaled) thus
the frequency table and a Pie Chart or Bar chart would be most appropriate for these
variables.
The obtained tables and the related graphs are given below