Survey Scale Analysis

[JC-24]

I am new to SPSS and need help working with survey data. I administered a
survey to 60 students. There are three separate scales on the survey. Each
scale has 7-8 questions with five possible responses (almost never, not very
often, etc.). Only one answer is allowed per question. I entered the scale
questions as separate variables (q12, q15, etc) in the variable view and
gave values for each participant's response to each question (values = 1-5).

I need to do two things:

1) Calculate each participant's (60 separate cases) mean score for each of
the three scales. The overall mean for each scale can range from 1-5.

2) I should end up with a profile for each participant that looks something
like this:

     Participant #1  Mean score for scale #1(7 questions)= 3.5; Mean score
for scale #2 (8 questions) = 4.0; Mean score for scale #3 (7 questions)= 3.1

3) Then, for each scale I need an overall mean and std deviation for all
participants, so three overall means and three std devs. Maybe this is
called a group mean and std dev for all cases/participants on each separate
scale (?)

If this is a compute function then please be very specific about the
necessary syntax. I already tried the compute option and the default
function, for example for one scale— MEAN(var1,var2, var3, var4, var5, var6,
var7)/7 —and this didn't work. I tried to name that new variable BES (S for
scale) and was still unable to compute 60 separate means for the 7 questions
on that scale. The new variable appeared useless.

Sorry this is long but I want to be clear. I am very frustrated at not being
able to do this simple thing on SPSS when it is a snap on EXCEL.

Regards,

JC

[Art Kendall]

*First *proofread all of your data.
This is critical in any analysis.

There are ways to enter data twice and compare them but they require
that users be more experienced. *Ironically, although this is one the
first tasks for raw beginners, it has not yet been put on the DATA menu.*

Also, you will revise your syntax as you develop your understanding of
SPSS and of your data, always exit menus via <paste>.

If you have items that were reverse worded to counterbalance social
desirability, response effects, etc. then
recode var1 to var24  (else= copy) into newvar1 to newvar24.
* this is an instance where it is ok to recode items into themselves
since you can retrace your steps.
recode var3, var4, ..(1=5)(2=4)(3=3)(4=2)(5=1)(else=copy).
reliability . . .

The example syntax is not tested.  substitute variable names etc that
fit your particular situation.
You can check the syntax for a procedure by highlighting it and clicking
the syntax icon.


JC wrote:
> I am new to SPSS and need help working with survey data. I administered a
> survey to 60 students. There are three separate scales on the survey. Each
> scale has 7-8 questions with five possible responses (almost never, not very
> often, etc.). Only one answer is allowed per question. I entered the scale
> questions as separate variables (q12, q15, etc) in the variable view and
> gave values for each participant's response to each question (values = 1-5).
>

In the future, it helps respondents treat extent items as interval if
you anchor "none or almost none" with a zero.
> I need to do two things:
>
> 1) Calculate each participant's (60 separate cases) mean score for each of
> the three scales. The overall mean for each scale can range from 1-5.
>
After the reliability run has verified the the items have been properly
reflected, keyed to the correct scales, and that no items should be dropped.

compute score1 = mean.5 (newvar5, newvar7, ......).
compute score2 = mean.5 (newvar1, newvar11 . . .).
compute score3 = mean.5(newvar . . .
formats score1 to score3 (f4.1).

> 2) I should end up with a profile for each participant that looks something
> like this:
>
>      Participant #1  Mean score for scale #1(7 questions)= 3.5; Mean score
> for scale #2 (8 questions) = 4.0; Mean score for scale #3 (7 questions)= 3.1
>

print records = 5 table
  / 'participant #' ID
 / 'Mean score for scale #1 (7 questions) =' score1
 / 'Mean score for scale #2 (8 questions) =' score2
 / 'Mean score for scale #3 (7 questions) =' score3
 /.


> 3) Then, for each scale I need an overall mean and std deviation for all
> participants, so three overall means and three std devs. Maybe this is
> called a group mean and std dev for all cases/participants on each separate
> scale (?)
>
descriptives vars= score1 to score3/statistics = all.

> If this is a compute function then please be very specific about the
> necessary syntax. I already tried the compute option and the default
> function, for example for one scaleâEUR" MEAN(var1,var2, var3, var4, var5, var6,
> var7)/7 âEUR"and this didn't work. I tried to name that new variable BES (S for
> scale) and was still unable to compute 60 separate means for the 7 questions
> on that scale. The new variable appeared useless.
>
You would have had mean/7.   not sum/7.
> Sorry this is long but I want to be clear. I am very frustrated at not being
> able to do this simple thing on SPSS when it is a snap on EXCEL.
>
> Regards,
>
> JC
>
>
>

[statisticsdoc]

JC,

Heed all of Art Kendall's advice, and look at the following SPSS commands:

COMPUTE SCALE1 =
  MEAN (item1,item2,item2,item4,item5,item6,item7)  .

do not divide this statement by 7.  Just use the mean function.  Make sure that all of the items are pointed in the direction that you want to score them.

If you have some missing data, and want to compute means on cases that have at least six of the seven items, try this:

COMPUTE SCALE1 =
  MEAN.6 (item1,item2,item2,item4,item5,item6,item7)  .

For the overall sample mean, standard deviation, etc.  you want

DESCRIPTIVES VAR = SCALE1 SCALE2 SCALE3.

This should at least get you started.  When you have done these steps, look into the RELIABILITY command to determine how internally consistent your scales are (and whether the items are pointed in the direction they should be).

HTH,

Stephen Brand
www.statisticsdoc.com



---- JC <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I am new to SPSS and need help working with survey data. I administered a
> survey to 60 students. There are three separate scales on the survey. Each
> scale has 7-8 questions with five possible responses (almost never, not very
> often, etc.). Only one answer is allowed per question. I entered the scale
> questions as separate variables (q12, q15, etc) in the variable view and
> gave values for each participant's response to each question (values = 1-5).
>
> I need to do two things:
>
> 1) Calculate each participant's (60 separate cases) mean score for each of
> the three scales. The overall mean for each scale can range from 1-5.
>
> 2) I should end up with a profile for each participant that looks something
> like this:
>
>      Participant #1  Mean score for scale #1(7 questions)= 3.5; Mean score
> for scale #2 (8 questions) = 4.0; Mean score for scale #3 (7 questions)= 3.1
>
> 3) Then, for each scale I need an overall mean and std deviation for all
> participants, so three overall means and three std devs. Maybe this is
> called a group mean and std dev for all cases/participants on each separate
> scale (?)
>
> If this is a compute function then please be very specific about the
> necessary syntax. I already tried the compute option and the default
> function, for example for one scale— MEAN(var1,var2, var3, var4, var5, var6,
> var7)/7 —and this didn't work. I tried to name that new variable BES (S for
> scale) and was still unable to compute 60 separate means for the 7 questions
> on that scale. The new variable appeared useless.
>
> Sorry this is long but I want to be clear. I am very frustrated at not being
> able to do this simple thing on SPSS when it is a snap on EXCEL.
>
> Regards,
>
> JC

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