The goal of this assignment is to explore the concepts related to the normal curve and standardized scores. Furthermore, another goal is for you to explore the various tools for data analysis in the SPSS software. These tools include the compute and standardize scores functions. You will find the steps in the assignment instructions to use these tools. Remember that there are additional resources available in the Supplemental Resources under Course Resources from the course home page.

The following table contains data from four science assignments.

Table 2

Data from Four Science Assignments

Part I:

Please enter the following data in SPSS and perform the necessary analyses in SPSS to answer the following questions.

1. What scale of measurement do the data represent (i.e., nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio)?
2. What is the mean and standard deviation for each assignment score?
3. What is the median for each assignment score?
4. What is the mode for each assignment score?
5. What is the range for each assignment score?

Part II:

1. 1. First, obtain a total assignment score for each student. To obtain the total score (“totscore”), you will use the compute tool in SPSS. To do this, in the top menu click on Transform, then Compute.
      • A compute variable box will appear, where you can type in a formula for the program to calculate.
      • In the target variable box, enter “totscore.” Then, click once in the numeric expression box.
      • After that, double click on Assignment 1, to move it from the list of variables to the numeric expression box.
      • Then click on the + (plus) sign.
      • After that, double click on Assignment 2 and follow the same instructions as Assignment 1 for the rest of the assignments. This new variable is the total sum of the four assignment scores.
   2. The second step is to calculate a z-score for each of the assignment scores and the total score.
      • To create a z-score in SPSS, you will go to analyze, then descriptive statistics, and descriptive.
      • Include in the window the four assignments and the “totscore” variables. Then check the box on Save Standardized Values as Variables.
   3. The third step is to convert each of the scores to a t-score.
      • The equation to a t-score is 50+(10*z-score). To convert the scores to t-score you will use the compute tool again.
      • To do this, in the top menu click on Transform, then Compute.
      • A compute variable box will appear, where you can type in a formula for the program to calculate.
      • In the target variable box, enter the t-score1.
      • In the numeric expression box, enter the t-score equation 50+(10*ZA_1) and use each appropriate z-score for each assignment. You also need a total t-score (tot_tscore) for each student.
      • Use Transform, then Compute.
      • Enter (tot_tscore) as the target variable and insert a formula in the Numeric Expression window to sum the four t-scores.
   4. In a separate document (Word or Excel), create two columns to compare the totscores (total scores) and the tot tscores (total t-scores). Please use the following grade breakdown to rank the assignment grade scores 1 through 12, where 1 is the highest score A, and 12 the lowest score F:
      • A to rank 1
      • B to rank 2
      • B– to rank 3
      • C+ to rank 4
      • C to ranks 5, 6, 7, and 8
      • C– to rank 9
      • D+ to rank 10
      • D to rank 11
      • F to rank 12
   5. Answer questions 7 through 12

1. Determine what is unusual about student 1’s performances on the tests.
2. What is strange about student 2’s performances? How do the performances of these two students differ, and how are they the same?
3. What grades would be assigned to these two students if the total of the raw scores were used to determine grades?
4. What grades would be assigned to these two students if the total of the t-scores were used to determine grades?
5. Why are your answers to questions 9 and 10 different? (Hint: examine the variability of the tests)
6. What are the means and the standard deviations of the four z-score distributions (to one decimal point)?
7. What are the means and standard deviations of the four t-score distributions (to one decimal point)?

Length: There is not a set number of pages required for this assignment. All questions in the assignment need to be answered. In addition to the answers to the assignment questions, also submit the output (.spv) file. (Note. SPSS automatically generates the .spv file as you work in SPSS. When you close your SPSS main window, SPSS will ask you if you want to save the output file. Click ‘yes’, then save to your computer and upload with your assignment.)

References: No references are required, though any sources used other than those provided within the assignment should be cited and referenced in APA format

Your responses 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. Be sure to adhere to National University’s Academic Integrity Policy.

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Due on Oct 29, 2023 11:59 PM