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SPSS Frequency Distribution Guide

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15 views5 pages

SPSS Frequency Distribution Guide

Uploaded by

englishreading591
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SPSS Exercise 2

Frequency Distributions
Due:

Frequency distributions are univariate techniques used to summarize data. A


frequency distribution displays the frequency with which the attributes of a variable
are observed in a sample.

Objectives:
There are four objectives to this assignment, the first two involve using SPSS and the
second two are about what you do with output from SPSS
1. Learn to make frequency distributions using SPSS
2. Learn how to read the output from SPSS
3. Learn to draw frequency distribution tables
4. Learn to analyze frequency distributions

SPSS Procedure:
1. Open the data set
2. From the tool bar select Analyze>Descriptive Statistics>Frequencies. See
Figure 2.1. This will cause a window to open up. See Figure 2.2.
3. In the “Frequencies” window, shown in Figure 2.2, select the variable(s) for
the frequency distribution from the left side of the window to the right side
of the window. This can be done by highlighting the variable and clicking the
arrow, double clicking the variable, or dragging it from one side to the other.
For the purpose of this demonstration we will be using the variable wrkstat
(Labor Force Status).
4. Once the variable(s) you are working with are on the right side of the
window click the “OK” button on the lower right hand side. This will cause a
window similar, but not necessarily identical, to the one in Figure 2.3 to pop
up.

Reading the Output:


1. The small box on the top of the output contains:
a. “N” (the number of respondents who responded to the survey we are
working with. It should always total 2,812)
b. Valid (the number of respondents that answered the question. In this
instance 2,811)
c. Missing (the number of respondents who for some reason did not
answer the question).
d. For the purposes of this assignment we are not concerned with this
small box.
2. The larger box:
a. The far left column list the attributes of the variable that are
considered “Valid” and “Missing.” There is also a label “Total” which
shows the total number of Valid and Missing responses in the third
column.
b. The second column from the left presents the attributes of the
variable we are working with.
c. The third column displays the “Frequency,” the number of
respondents that selected a particular attribute.
d. The fourth column presents the “Percent,” the frequency of
respondents that selected a particular attribute divided by the total
number of respondents in the survey (e.g. 1466/2812=0.52133 or
52.1%). Notice that if you added all the percent subtotals it would
equal/total 100 as is displayed at the bottom of the fourth column.
e. The fifth column is the “Valid Percent,” the frequency of respondents
that selected a particular attribute divide by the total number of
respondents that answered the question (see Valid in step 1b) (e.g.
1466/2811= 0.52152 04 52.1%) When reporting percent, this is the
value most likely to be used.
f. The sixth column is the “Cumulative Percent,” this is cumulative
frequency divided by the total number of respondents in a survey.
This is slightly more complicated and will be covered in more detail
during lecture.

Displaying Data:
1. Output from SPSS frequency distributions should be presented in a table that
displays
a. A table number
b. A title for the table
c. The valid attributes being displayed
d. The valid percent
e. The “n” or the number of respondents in the sample (it will always be
2,812 with this data set)
f. The source of the date (it will always be 2004 General Social Survey)
2. See Table 2.1 for a model of how a table for the variable wrkstat might look.

Analyzing A Frequency Distribution:


1. When analyzing data:
a. Reference the table by number and title. Note that when discuss a
specific table the “t” in table should be capitalized.
b. As a rule of thumb, cite at least three data points. Note, that when
analyzing a frequency distribution it is most important to discuss
(valid) percent and not the frequency.
c. Provide one sentence to summarize the findings.
2. Sample:
a. Table 1 presents a Frequency Distribution for Respondents’ Labor Force
Status (workstat). Using these data I find that the over 63 percent (1,786)
of respondents are employed either part-time or fulltime while
approximately 3.5 percent (99) are unemployed. It is worth noting that
over 14 percent of respondents were unemployed and 9.5 percent
respondents indicated that they kept house. Overall, the table shows that
most respondents are employed.
Assignment:
1. Produce frequency distributions for SPSS for the variables “marital” and
“race”
2. Make tables using the output from the variables “marital” and “race”
3. Write a report where:
a. Frequency distribution is defined.
b. Analyze the tables produced.
c. Discuss any problems encountered and how they were overcome.
d. Include the output and tables produced

Figure 2.1.
Figure 2.2

Figure 2.3
Table 2.1. Respondents Labor Force Status (wrkstat)
Frequency Percent
Working Fulltime 1466 52.2
Working Part-time 320 11.4
Temporarily Not Working 80 2.8
Unemployed/Laid Off 99 3.5
Retired 403 14.3
In School 115 4.1
Keeping House 266 9.5
Other 62 2.2
Total 2811 100
n=2,812
Source: 2004 General Social Survey

Common questions

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Generating a frequency distribution in SPSS involves the following steps: 1) Opening the data set, 2) Selecting Analyze>Descriptive Statistics>Frequencies from the tool bar, 3) In the Frequencies window, selecting the variable(s) for the distribution by moving them from the left to the right side, and 4) Clicking the 'OK' button to produce the output .

The 'Valid Percent' in a frequency distribution is calculated by dividing the frequency of respondents selecting a particular attribute by the total number of respondents who answered the question (Valid responses). It is important because it adjusts for any missing data, providing a more accurate representation of the data by focusing only on responses that were actually recorded .

The frequency distribution for labor force status indicates that over 63% of respondents are employed in either full-time or part-time roles, suggesting a majority are active in the labor market. In contrast, smaller proportions are retired (14.3%), or unemployed (3.5%), highlighting distinct population segments with varying employment statuses, providing a nuanced snapshot of the workforce distribution .

Including a clearly defined source in SPSS output tables is necessary for transparency, validity, and allowing reproducibility of research findings. This document specifically cites the source as the 2004 General Social Survey, which substantiates the origin and reliability of the data being analyzed and presented .

'Valid Percent' is emphasized over 'Percent' in SPSS reporting because it accounts for missing data by calculating percentages only from valid questionnaire responses. This yields a more accurate reflection of the survey population's opinions or status, aligning closely with the total number of respondents who actually provided input .

A table displaying SPSS frequency distribution output should include the following elements: a table number, a title for the table, the valid attributes being displayed, the valid percent, 'n' or the number of respondents in the sample, and the source of the data, which is usually specified as the 2004 General Social Survey for the data set in question .

Utilizing SPSS for frequency distributions offers significant benefits over manual calculations by providing error-free processing and handling large data sets efficiently. It also allows for immediate visualization and interpretation of data through automatic generation of relevant tables and graphics, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of data analysis processes .

Challenges in analyzing frequency distribution data include understanding the significance of different columns, especially 'Cumulative Percent', addressing potential missing data, and ensuring accurate interpretation of output values. Overcoming these involves thorough examination of each column, focusing on 'Valid Percent' for accurate data representation, and precise referencing by using multiple data points to validate findings, as recommended in proper SPSS procedure .

The 'Cumulative Percent' column in a frequency distribution reflects the cumulative frequency divided by the total number of respondents in the survey. It provides insight into the proportion of the sample that falls below a particular score or class interval, offering a running total that helps in understanding distribution patterns .

The primary objectives for learning to use frequency distributions in SPSS are: 1) To learn how to create frequency distributions using SPSS, 2) To learn how to read the output from SPSS, 3) To learn how to draw frequency distribution tables, and 4) To learn how to analyze frequency distributions .

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