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 theirdemographic
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 examiners
to 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 20 items 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 emphasizecurrent depressive mood. Scores on the total scale are summed and
can range from 0 to 60.Traditionally,
individuals 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 reverse
to 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
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.
