SMU Quantitative Analysis Study Discussion

Week 1 – Assignment: Examine Statistical Analysis within the Context of a Dissertation Topic:Instructions
For this assignment, you first will identify a topic of interest that
you might want to pursue research. You are not tied to this topic
when you reach the dissertation sequence, but it should be a
topic that you find interesting now and also relates to your
program and specialization.
Next, conduct a literature search using the NCU library to locate
two quantitative studies examining your selected topic and in
which the authors present statistical findings.
Once you have located your articles, you will prepare a short
paper using the following format:

Introduction to the selected topic of interest

Brief summary of first article
o
Include research question(s) and hypotheses, and general
findings.

Brief summary of second article
o
Include research question(s) and hypotheses, and general
findings
o
Include statistical tests used.

Synthesis
o
Specifically, compare and contrast the two articles, assessing the
types of statistical methods and analysis used.

Conclusion
o
Assess what approach you might take if you were to conduct a
study in this topic area.
Length: 4 pages not including title page and reference page.
References: Include a minimum of 3 scholarly resources.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the
ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide
new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect graduate-level writing and APA
standards.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Week 2 – Assignment 1: Organize Data:
Part1: Instructions
In this week’s assignment, you will complete a problem set in
which you address levels of data and types of variables. Answers
to the problems must be complete and written in a formal
narrative language. In addition, you will write a short essay
related to data privacy.
1. Explain what it means to say, “variables must vary.”
2. List and define the four levels of measurement (using examples)
discussed in this week’s introduction and resources. In your
opinion, which one or more is the most appropriate for
statistical analysis. Explain.
3. Compare and contrast the characteristics of continuous and
discrete variables. What is a common challenge of trying to
calculate statistics using discrete variables?
4. Identify the level of measurement for the following examples
and explain why you selected the level you did for each, relying
on this week’s resources for support:
a. Career field (e.g., accountant, production manager, etc.)
b. Temperature in Fahrenheit
c. A job satisfaction survey measured as “disagree, neutral, agree”
d. Total sales for a firm
5. Identify each of the following types of a variable (e.g.,
continuous versus discrete) and explain why you selected the
category you did for each, relying on this week’s resources for
support:
e. The number of workers in each department of a large
organization (e.g., workers in production, sales, accounting,
etc.)
f. The dollars of revenue earned during a fiscal year.
g. The number of software licenses available to employees in a firm
h. The average annual salary of middle managers of an
organization
Length: 3 pages not including title page and reference page
References: Include a minimum of 2 scholarly resources.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the
ideas and concepts presented in the course and provide new
thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA
standards.
Part2: Week 2 – Assignment 2: Interpret Graphs Using Excel
and SPSS
Instructions
In this week’s assignment, you will explore the different types of
graphs used to visualize data. Results from both Excel and SPSS
should be copied and pasted into a Word document for
submission.
Use the provided datasets for building one of each of the four
chart types below. For each chart, select a variable from the
provided dataset with a measurement level that is best
visualized by that chart type. Use APA style to label each chart.
Each graph must contain a narrative description of what it
represents and an interpretation of the image.
1. Pie chart
2. Bar chart
3. Scatterplot
4. Histogram
Length: 4 to 6 pages not including title page or reference page
References: Include a minimum of 2 scholarly resources. Be sure
to reference Excel and SPSS as they are resources for this
assignment, although not scholarly.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the
ideas and concepts presented in the course and provide new
thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA
standards.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Week 3 – Assignment: Analyze Numerical Summaries of
Data Using Excel and SPSS
Instructions
In this week’s assignment, you will answer the following
questions using both Excel and SPSS software. Results from
these programs should be copied and pasted into a Word
document for submission.
For Questions 1 and 2 you will need to input the data provided
below into both Excel and SPSS. For Questions 3 and 4 you will
use the dataset files provided in the resources for this week
(Descriptive statistics, n.d.-a, n.d.-b).
1. Suppose that a quality assurance manager took a random
sample from a thread-cutting machine. The sample consisted of
18 bolts and the manager tested their tensile strengths. Results
from the sample, in tons of force required for breakage, are
given below:
2.20
1.95
2.15
2.08
1.85
1.92
2.23
2.19
1.98
2.07
2.24
2.31
1.96
2.30
2.27
1.89
2.01
1.93
a. Use Excel to calculate the mean, median, and standard
deviation for these data.
b. Use SPSS to calculate the mean, median, and standard
deviation for these data.
c. Use SPSS to create a histogram of these data.
d. Interpret these results and explain any differences you find
between the two software tools (Hint. The results should be
identical).
2. A manager of a food manufacturing company wants to
estimate the percentage of fat in one of its salad dressings. A
sample of 20 bottles was taken and the results are given below.
15.88
19.88
21.16
20.37
22.77
20.65
18.60
18.91
21.77
21.64
18.62
18.41
20.15
17.07
19.91
21.07
16.49
21.21
17.98
20.22
a. Use Excel to calculate the mean, median, and standard
deviation for these data.
b. Use SPSS to calculate the mean, median, and standard
deviation for these data.
c. Use SPSS to create a histogram of these data.
d. Interpret these results and explain whether or not it is honest
for the manufacturer to state that the fat content is 20%? Explain
your answer.
3. A manager is worried that her employees are not engaged at
work. She finds an employee engagement survey and
administers it to her workers. The individual scores are provided
in the dataset file.
a. Use Excel to calculate the mean, median, and standard
deviation for the employee engagement data.
b. Use SPSS to calculate the mean, median, and standard
deviation for the employee engagement data.
c. Use SPSS to create a histogram of these data.
d. Next, conduct an analysis of the “age” and “gender” variables
using the appropriate measures of central tendency and
dispersion. Use SPSS only. Also, create an appropriate graphic
for each variable.
d. Interpret the results for employee engagement, age, and
gender. Identify what you believe the next step should be in this
analysis.
4. A shop supervisor wants to understand his workers better. He
hires a consultant who tells him that he should ask employees
questions related to their lives if they feel comfortable
answering these questions. Please use SPSS to analyze the
following variables, create appropriate figures and charts, and
explain the results of each variable. Do not compare the
variables in this assignment.
a. Age
b. Model of car
c. Rent or own their home
d. Hobbies
e. How happy they are (on a five-point scale)
Length: 5 pages
References: Include a minimum of 3 resources (two of these will
be Excel and SPSS).
Your assignment should demonstrate thoughtful consideration
of the ideas and concepts presented in the course and provide
new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA
standards.
…………………………………………………………………………………
Week 4 – Assignment: Apply the Normal Distribution
Instructions
For this week’s assignment, you will present your answers to the
following questions in a formal paper format. Please separate
each question with a short heading, e.g., normal curve, bell
curve, etc.
Begin with a brief introduction in which you explain the
importance of normal distribution.
Next, address the following questions in order:

Describe the characteristics of the normal curve and explain why
the curve, in sample distributions, never perfectly matches the
normal curve.

Why is the bell curve used to represent the normal distribution?
Why not a different shape?

Why is the central limit theorem important in statistics?

What does the central limit theorem inform us about the
sampling distribution of the sample means?

Imagine that you recently took an exam for certification in your
field. The certifying agency has published the results of the
exam and 75% of the test takers in your group scored below the
average. In a normal distribution, half of the scores would fall
above the mean and the other half below. How can what the
certifying agency published be true?

Why do researchers use z-scores to determine probabilities?
What are the advantages to using z-scores?
Conclude with a brief discussion of how the concept of
probability might affect research that you might undertake in
your dissertation project. In other words, how would a basic
understanding of probability concepts aid you in analyzing and
interpreting data?
Length: 4 pages not including title page and reference page.
References: Include a minimum of 3 scholarly resources.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the
ideas and concepts presented in the course and provide new
thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA
standards.
………………………………………………………………………………
Week 5 – Assignment: Identify Analysis Tools in Published
Research
Instructions
This week you will locate three quantitative studies addressing a
topic in your area of specialization. At minimum, two different
statistical tests should be represented.
For example, you might search the literature for studies in
transformational leadership and you may find two that used
regression analysis and a third that used a t-test. For each
study:
1. State the null and alternative hypotheses (Hint. The authors will
note the alternative hypotheses, but you will have to infer the
null as those aren’t typically stated in published research)
2. Identify the statistical test used to determine statistical
significance (e.g., t-test, analysis of variance, multiple
regression, etc.).
3. Identify the test statistic, note it, and explain what it means
(e.g., t=3.47).
4. Identify the significance level used in each study
5. Identify whether or not the authors found support for their
hypotheses. Consider sample size and Type I and Type II error.
6. Explain the implications of each finding.
Identify whether or not the authors found support for their
hypotheses. Consider sample size and Type I and Type II error.
Explain the implications of each finding.
Length: 5 pages
References: Include a minimum of 3 scholarly resources.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the
ideas and concepts presented in the course and provide new
thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA
standards.
………………………………………………………………………………
Week 6 – Assignment: Interpret a Correlation Analysis
Instructions
For this assignment, you will use the six-step hypothesis testing
process (noted below) to run and interpret a correlation analysis
using SPSS. The following vignette will inform you of the context
for this assignment. A data file is provided in the week’s
resources for use in this assignment. Also review the section
on Presentation of Statistical Results and Explaining Quantitative
Findings in a Narrative Report in the NCU School of Business
Best Practice Guide for Quantitative Research Design and
Methods in Dissertations.
A manager is interested in better understanding job satisfaction
by studying the associations between a number of variables.
These variables are age, years of experience, level of education,
employee engagement, job satisfaction, and job performance
levels.
Part 1
She thinks there is a relationship between job satisfaction and

years of experience
educational level
employee engagement
job performance

State the null and alternative hypotheses.



1. Identify critical values for the test statistics and state the
decision rule concerning when to reject or fail to reject the null
hypothesis of no relationship.
2. Run the Pearson correlation analysis and include the correlation
matrix in your assignment response.
3. Report and interpret the correlation coefficient and p-value for
each variable paired with job satisfaction.
4. Explain what decisions the manager might make using these
findings.
Part 2
She thinks that younger employees will perform at a higher
level, on average.
1. State the null and alternative hypotheses sets.
2. Select the significance level.
3. Select the test statistics and calculate its value.
4. Identify critical values for the test statistics and state the
decision rule concerning when to reject or fail to reject the null
hypothesis.
5. Compare the calculated and critical values to reach a conclusion
for the null hypothesis.
6. Explain what decisions the manager might make using these
findings.
Length: 4 pages not including title and reference page
References: Include a minimum of 3 scholarly resources.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the
ideas and concepts presented in the course and provide new
thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA
standards.
……………………………………………………………………………….
Week 7 – Assignment: Conduct a Comparative Analysis of
Non-Parametric Statistics in Extant Literature
Instructions
For this assignment, you first will identify a topic of interest that
you might want to pursue research. You are not tied to this topic
when you reach the dissertation sequence, but it should be a
topic that you find interesting now and also relates to your
program and specialization.
Next, conduct a literature search using the NCU library to locate
two studies examining your selected topic and in which the
researchers used non-parametric statistics. In your search for
articles, you should use any combination of the term “nonparametric” as well as the different tools discussed in this
week’s lesson (e.g., Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman,
Friedman, etc.).
Once you have located your articles, you will prepare a short
paper using the following format:

Introduction to the selected topic of interest

Brief summary of first article
o
Include research question, statistical test(s), and general
findings.

Brief summary of second article
o
Include research question, statistical test(s) and general
findings.

Synthesis
o
Specifically, compare and contrast the two articles, assessing the
types of statistical methods and analysis used.

Conclusion
o
Assess what approach you might take if you were to conduct a
study in this topic area.
Length: 4 pages not including title page and reference page.
References: Include a minimum of 3 scholarly resources.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the
ideas and concepts presented in the course and provide new
thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA
standards.
…………………………………………………………………………..
Week 8 – Assignment: Signature Assignment: Create a
Presentation for Statistical Analysis in Research
Instructions
In this Signature Assignment, you will use what you have learned
in this course to conduct three statistical tests: a Pearson
correlation, an independent t-test, and an ANOVA.
You will use SPSS to conduct the statistical tests.
You will then prepare a PowerPoint presentation in which you
share the results of each statistical test. Each slide should
contain notes (at least 100 words) describing the analysis in
narrative form.
Prepare the PowerPoint presentation and include a voiceover. For instructions on how to include a narration to a
PowerPoint presentation, search for “how to create voice-over
narration in MSWord PowerPoint.”
Use the attached SPSS file to complete the following:
Select variables appropriate to conduct each of the statistical
tests below:

Pearson Correlation for three variables

Independent Samples t-test
o
Recall from week 5 that the t-test compares means for two
groups.

ANOVA
o
Recall from week 5 that the ANOVA test compares means for
three or more groups.
PowerPoint
Introduction
Introduce the assignment by stating the importance of
hypothesis testing in research and how statistics are used to
accomplish this.
Present the statistical tests one at a time. For each statistical
test:
1. Identify the null and alternative hypothesis for the statistical
test.
2. Identify the Independent and Dependent variables, as
appropriate. (Note: not applicable for the Pearson Correlation
statistical test)
3. Display appropriate graphics, and descriptive statistics for each
of the variables in the statistical test. Describe the central
tendency and dispersion of each variable in the slide notes using
formal writing.
4. Display the statistical output for the test.
a. Describe the statistical output in the slide notes using
formal writing.
b. Reflect on the use and value of the statistical test.
Summary
Close the assignment with a formally written reflection on
building a statistical mindset and developing statistical
confidence.
Resources:
BUS-7105 Signature Assignment SPSS Data Set
Length: 12 slides not including title page and reference page
References: Include a minimum of 5 scholarly resources.
Your presentation should demonstrate thoughtful consideration
of the ideas and concepts presented in the course and provide
new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA
standards.