Five highest scores

[Paul Jeffries-2]

Dear list,

 

I have seven scores for each subject.  Scores can range from zero to 1.  I want to take the average of the five highest scores for each subject.  So I do I get SPSS to drop the two lowest scores for each subject and average the remaining scores.

 

Any help is appreciated,

Paul W. Jeffries
Department of Psychology
Washington & Jefferson College
60 South Lincoln Street
Washington, PA 15301
Email:  [hidden email]
Ph.:  724 503 1001 x3363
Fx.:   724 228 3802

[Bruce Weaver]

Paul Jeffries-2 wrote

Dear list,

I have seven scores for each subject.  Scores can range from zero to 1.  I want to take the average of the five highest scores for each subject.  So I do I get SPSS to drop the two lowest scores for each subject and average the remaining scores.

Any help is appreciated,
Paul W. Jeffries

Here's one way.

* Restructure from one row per person to 7 rows per person .

VARSTOCASES
  /MAKE x FROM x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 x6 x7
  /INDEX=index(7)
  /KEEP=id
  /NULL=KEEP.

* Rank the scores within ID .

RANK VARIABLES=x (A) BY id
  /RANK
  /PRINT=YES
  /TIES=MEAN.

* Drop the lowest two ranks .

select if (Rx GT 2).
exe.

* Compute the mean of the highest 5 scores .

aggregate outfile = * /
 break = ID /
 mean_5_hi = mean(x).