"significantly" not significant

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"significantly" not significant

Rohan Lulham
Hello

This maybe be a naive question, but was wondering how to test if the
difference between to means are significantly similar (e.g. "significantly"
not significant differences). For example being able to say with 95%
confidence that the two means are similar or the same based on the results
of a test. It is very basic question, but rarely talked about were most
research traditions are predominantly looking for differences.

Can the probability value of say an ANOVA test be used so that a p value
= .95 would indicate 95% confidence they are similar? I am thinking due to
some underlying statistical theory to the approach this is not appropriate,
but am not quite sure.

Is there another way to set up an anlysis that can test for similarity
between two means, or distributions?

Thanks for time

Rohan
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Re: "significantly" not significant

Dominic Lusinchi
Rohan,

As you say most statistical tests to detect differences are setup to assess
well...whether a significant difference between two (or more) groups exists.
Significant here means that what is observed is unlikely to have been a
result of chance (a coincidence to use the vernacular).

If no difference has been found (i.e. not significant) this does not "prove"
that they are the same, but only that we have insufficient evidence to state
that one is (significantly) different (statistically speaking) from the
other. Hence, given the lack of evidence we can continue our work under the
assumption of no difference or change.

The Shapiro-Wilks test and the Levene tests, for example, are test where
when we cannot reject the null hypothesis (normal distribution, equal
variances, respectively), we proceed with our analysis under the assumption
of normality or homoscedasticity, respectively.

If the p-value of your test is p=.95, this just means that the probability
of observing the difference under the null hypothesis is very high (this
observed difference is a very common occurrence under the null hypothesis
(of no difference)). In other words, if we were to take repeated samples of
size n from two populations with the same mean, the probability of obtaining
a difference as large as or larger than the one observed is .95.

Hope this is not too confusing, and helps.

Dominic Lusinchi
Statistician
Far West Research
Statistical Consulting
San Francisco, California
415-664-3032
www.farwestresearch.com
-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Rohan Lulham
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 11:21 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: "significantly" not significant

Hello

This maybe be a naive question, but was wondering how to test if the
difference between to means are significantly similar (e.g. "significantly"
not significant differences). For example being able to say with 95%
confidence that the two means are similar or the same based on the results
of a test. It is very basic question, but rarely talked about were most
research traditions are predominantly looking for differences.

Can the probability value of say an ANOVA test be used so that a p value
= .95 would indicate 95% confidence they are similar? I am thinking due to
some underlying statistical theory to the approach this is not appropriate,
but am not quite sure.

Is there another way to set up an anlysis that can test for similarity
between two means, or distributions?

Thanks for time

Rohan
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SPSS for disabilities?

Jeff-125
In reply to this post by Rohan Lulham
I've just learned that I will have a visually impaired student in one of my
classes for which I require some work with SPSS. I'm not sure how bad the
student's eyesight is, but from what I gather, it is bad enough so that she
will require a notetaker and verbal recordings/translations of reading
material - although she can see to some degree and appears to be quite
capable on a computer (presumably enlarged in some way). Because this is a
basic/intro class, the spss work is not intensive - crosstabs and
frequencies mostly.

Is there anything special that anyone can offer as to how this student
might be better able to use the software? I took a quick look and have
found no way to enlarge the data editor window and menu items (we really
won't be using syntax files) and I really didn't see much.

Thanks in advance

Jeff
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Re: SPSS for disabilities?

Barnett, Adrian (HEALTH)
Hi Jeff,
If you are using Windows XP, look under
Programs>Accessories>Accessibility and run the Accessibility Wizard .
It allows you to increase text sizes etc. I think there is a Magnifier
tool in there somewhere too which will magnify a region around the
cursor.

There maybe some other stuff you can find if you search through Help.

I haven't used these things myself, so I'm afraid I can't comment on how
well they work etc.

HTH

Regards


Adrian

--
Adrian Barnett
Research & Information Officer                  Ph:     +61 8 82266615
Research, Analysis and Evaluation                       Fax:    +61 8
82267088
Strategic Planning and Research Branch
Strategic Planning and Population Health Division
Department of Health


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-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Jeff
Sent: Monday, 28 August 2006 12:39
To: [hidden email]
Subject: SPSS for disabilities?

I've just learned that I will have a visually impaired student in one of
my classes for which I require some work with SPSS. I'm not sure how bad
the student's eyesight is, but from what I gather, it is bad enough so
that she will require a notetaker and verbal recordings/translations of
reading material - although she can see to some degree and appears to be
quite capable on a computer (presumably enlarged in some way). Because
this is a basic/intro class, the spss work is not intensive - crosstabs
and frequencies mostly.

Is there anything special that anyone can offer as to how this student
might be better able to use the software? I took a quick look and have
found no way to enlarge the data editor window and menu items (we really
won't be using syntax files) and I really didn't see much.

Thanks in advance

Jeff
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Re: SPSS for disabilities?

Dominic Lusinchi
In reply to this post by Jeff-125
Jeff,

If you go to Edit (on the menu bar), Options, font size can be adjusted in
the Viewer tab you can adjust the font size (there are two areas of fonts,
so you will have to do both), select each item in the "Initial Output State"
list and increase the font to whatever is appropriate.

Other people on the list may have better suggestions.

Good luck,
Dominic

Dominic Lusinchi
Statistician
Far West Research
Statistical Consulting
San Francisco, California
415-664-3032
www.farwestresearch.com

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Jeff
Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 8:09 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: SPSS for disabilities?

I've just learned that I will have a visually impaired student in one of my
classes for which I require some work with SPSS. I'm not sure how bad the
student's eyesight is, but from what I gather, it is bad enough so that she
will require a notetaker and verbal recordings/translations of reading
material - although she can see to some degree and appears to be quite
capable on a computer (presumably enlarged in some way). Because this is a
basic/intro class, the spss work is not intensive - crosstabs and
frequencies mostly.

Is there anything special that anyone can offer as to how this student
might be better able to use the software? I took a quick look and have
found no way to enlarge the data editor window and menu items (we really
won't be using syntax files) and I really didn't see much.

Thanks in advance

Jeff
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Re: "significantly" not significant

David Hitchin
In reply to this post by Rohan Lulham
Rohan Lulham <[hidden email]> asked:
>
> This maybe be a naive question, but was wondering how to test if the
> difference between to means are significantly similar (e.g.
> "significantly"  not significant differences).

There are specific methods for this very problem, which you will find in
the literature under the heading "bio-equivalence". These tests are
used, for example, when other companies are making a pharmaceutical
which is licensed and has specific published qualities. Your company
finds a way to make the same drug via another method, and the question
is whether yours is sufficiently similar to the standard to be marketed
as (medically) the same thing.

The fundamentals are that FIRST you decide how similar these should be
(within 1%, 2% or whatever value you choose of the standard on a
particular biochemical or other test) and you decide how sure you must
be that your version doesn't fall outside of that range. That enables
you to determine the sample size that you need, and when you have
completed the test the confidence interval for the mean of your data
should lie within the limits which you have decided for acceptability.

Note that this experiment was designed BEFORE the data values were
collected.

If you collected data for another purpose and happened to notice that
the means of two samples were very similar, then a post-hoc test would
need very different methods.

David Hitchin
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Re: SPSS for disabilities?

Marta García-Granero
In reply to this post by Dominic Lusinchi
Hi Jeff

Besides Dominic advice, second best thing that can be done is ask for
large buttons (right click on any button, select "Toolbars" and click
the option "Large buttons" and OK).

DL> If you go to Edit (on the menu bar), Options, font size can be adjusted in
DL> the Viewer tab you can adjust the font size (there are two areas of fonts,
DL> so you will have to do both), select each item in the "Initial Output State"
DL> list and increase the font to whatever is appropriate.

DL> -----Original Message-----
DL> From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
DL> Jeff
DL> Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 8:09 PM
DL> To: [hidden email]
DL> Subject: SPSS for disabilities?

DL> I've just learned that I will have a visually impaired student in one of my
DL> classes for which I require some work with SPSS. I'm not sure how bad the
DL> student's eyesight is, but from what I gather, it is bad enough so that she
DL> will require a notetaker and verbal recordings/translations of reading
DL> material - although she can see to some degree and appears to be quite
DL> capable on a computer (presumably enlarged in some way). Because this is a
DL> basic/intro class, the spss work is not intensive - crosstabs and
DL> frequencies mostly.

DL> Is there anything special that anyone can offer as to how this student
DL> might be better able to use the software? I took a quick look and have
DL> found no way to enlarge the data editor window and menu items (we really
DL> won't be using syntax files) and I really didn't see much.

--
Regards,
Dr. Marta García-Granero,PhD           mailto:[hidden email]
Statistician
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AW: "significantly" not significant

la volta statistics
In reply to this post by Rohan Lulham
Hello Rohan

look at the following link:
http://www.diahome.org/content/abstract/1999/d3341205.pdf

It contains a good description for what you are aiming for.

Good luck, Christian

*******************************
la volta statistics
Christian Schmidhauser, Dr.phil.II
Weinbergstrasse 108
Ch-8006 Zürich
Tel: +41 (043) 233 98 01
Fax: +41 (043) 233 98 02
mailto:[hidden email]


-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]]Im Auftrag von
Rohan Lulham
Gesendet: Sonntag, 27. August 2006 08:21
An: [hidden email]
Betreff: "significantly" not significant


Hello

This maybe be a naive question, but was wondering how to test if the
difference between to means are significantly similar (e.g. "significantly"
not significant differences). For example being able to say with 95%
confidence that the two means are similar or the same based on the results
of a test. It is very basic question, but rarely talked about were most
research traditions are predominantly looking for differences.

Can the probability value of say an ANOVA test be used so that a p value
= .95 would indicate 95% confidence they are similar? I am thinking due to
some underlying statistical theory to the approach this is not appropriate,
but am not quite sure.

Is there another way to set up an anlysis that can test for similarity
between two means, or distributions?

Thanks for time

Rohan
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Re: SPSS for disabilities?

Albert-Jan Roskam
In reply to this post by Marta García-Granero
Hi Jeff,

1--In addition to Dominic's and Martha's advice using
Window's "Magnifying glass" program is also possible.
I believe it is standard present in every
installation, if not it's on the windows cd. It can be
found under:
Start --> Programs --> Accecoires --> Accessibility.
There are several tools that may be useful there.

2-- Under Control Panel --> Accessibility Options,
there are a few more things you can change, e.g.
increasing the contrast.

Cheers!
Albert-Jan

--- Marta Garc�a-Granero <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Hi Jeff
>
> Besides Dominic advice, second best thing that can
> be done is ask for
> large buttons (right click on any button, select
> "Toolbars" and click
> the option "Large buttons" and OK).
>
> DL> If you go to Edit (on the menu bar), Options,
> font size can be adjusted in
> DL> the Viewer tab you can adjust the font size
> (there are two areas of fonts,
> DL> so you will have to do both), select each item
> in the "Initial Output State"
> DL> list and increase the font to whatever is
> appropriate.
>
> DL> -----Original Message-----
> DL> From: SPSSX(r) Discussion
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> DL> Jeff
> DL> Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 8:09 PM
> DL> To: [hidden email]
> DL> Subject: SPSS for disabilities?
>
> DL> I've just learned that I will have a visually
> impaired student in one of my
> DL> classes for which I require some work with SPSS.
> I'm not sure how bad the
> DL> student's eyesight is, but from what I gather,
> it is bad enough so that she
> DL> will require a notetaker and verbal
> recordings/translations of reading
> DL> material - although she can see to some degree
> and appears to be quite
> DL> capable on a computer (presumably enlarged in
> some way). Because this is a
> DL> basic/intro class, the spss work is not
> intensive - crosstabs and
> DL> frequencies mostly.
>
> DL> Is there anything special that anyone can offer
> as to how this student
> DL> might be better able to use the software? I took
> a quick look and have
> DL> found no way to enlarge the data editor window
> and menu items (we really
> DL> won't be using syntax files) and I really didn't
> see much.
>
> --
> Regards,
> Dr. Marta Garc�a-Granero,PhD
> mailto:[hidden email]
> Statistician
>


__________________________________________________
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Re: AW: "significantly" not significant

Rohan Lulham-2
In reply to this post by la volta statistics
Hello

Thank you for the really helpful and interesting suggestions. The paper was
really helpful- CI approach may be relevant.

I haven't got a lot of statistical training, and I think the idea of going
back through the theory is the way to go. It is likely this will need to
stay on hold as need to finish a thesis.

The issue really is a post hoc question as there was not a specific
hypothesis. It does however fit with the theoretical basis of my research (
the research uses control theory to look at influence of physical
environment on staff and detainee perceptions of self and others in
juvenile detention centres) the data is likely also not particularly strong
data for conducting complicated statistical analyses.

Based on perceptual control theory (Powers, 1973) a proposition is that
people control perceptions in the environment - they maintain them at a
reference level and resist disturbances (e.g. maintaining perceptions of
self as tough) ( I think I am providing too much information - apologies).

A result in my research was staff participants in three different simulated
environments all had rating of self (good-bad) which were very similar. The
estimated marginal means are shown below. From the results it appears they
are controlling perceptions of self - although ratings of other objects,
and self on other dimensions (toughness), varied.

Estimates

Dependent Variable: DC You- Evaluation
TreatmentMeanStd. Error95% Confidence Interval
    Lower BoundUpper Bound
Unit 1.667.468-.2751.608
Unit 2.778.449-.1251.680
Unit 3.756.454-.1581.669


It is  likely may need to do more looking in control theory for analysis
approaches - but due to the qualities of data describing the data as
indicative of the explanation will likely suffice.

Thankyou for time - I better get back to it - as need to get this thesis
finished.

regards rohan




At 05:10 PM 28/08/2006, la volta statistics wrote:

>Hello Rohan
>
>look at the following link:
>http://www.diahome.org/content/abstract/1999/d3341205.pdf
>
>It contains a good description for what you are aiming for.
>
>Good luck, Christian
>
>*******************************
>la volta statistics
>Christian Schmidhauser, Dr.phil.II
>Weinbergstrasse 108
>Ch-8006 Zürich
>Tel: +41 (043) 233 98 01
>Fax: +41 (043) 233 98 02
>mailto:[hidden email]
>
>
>-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
>Von: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]]Im Auftrag von
>Rohan Lulham
>Gesendet: Sonntag, 27. August 2006 08:21
>An: [hidden email]
>Betreff: "significantly" not significant
>
>
>Hello
>
>This maybe be a naive question, but was wondering how to test if the
>difference between to means are significantly similar (e.g. "significantly"
>not significant differences). For example being able to say with 95%
>confidence that the two means are similar or the same based on the results
>of a test. It is very basic question, but rarely talked about were most
>research traditions are predominantly looking for differences.
>
>Can the probability value of say an ANOVA test be used so that a p value
>= .95 would indicate 95% confidence they are similar? I am thinking due to
>some underlying statistical theory to the approach this is not appropriate,
>but am not quite sure.
>
>Is there another way to set up an anlysis that can test for similarity
>between two means, or distributions?
>
>Thanks for time
>
>Rohan

Rohan Lulham
Ph.D. Student
Environment, Behaviour and Society Research Group
Faculty of Architecture, University of Sydney
Australia
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Re: SPSS for disabilities?

Peck, Jon
In reply to this post by Albert-Jan Roskam
The Control Panel options vary from version to version of Windows, but most have a High Contrast option which gives more contrast and larger sizes.

Besides these approaches, you can use JAWS to read on-screen material.  Not quite everything in SPSS can be read by JAWS, but it helps a lot.  Look at the topic "accessibility" in the SPSS Help index for a lot of information on this topic.

Regards,
Jon Peck
SPSS

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Albert-jan Roskam
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 3:32 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] SPSS for disabilities?

Hi Jeff,

1--In addition to Dominic's and Martha's advice using
Window's "Magnifying glass" program is also possible.
I believe it is standard present in every
installation, if not it's on the windows cd. It can be
found under:
Start --> Programs --> Accecoires --> Accessibility.
There are several tools that may be useful there.

2-- Under Control Panel --> Accessibility Options,
there are a few more things you can change, e.g.
increasing the contrast.

Cheers!
Albert-Jan

--- Marta Garc�a-Granero <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Hi Jeff
>
> Besides Dominic advice, second best thing that can
> be done is ask for
> large buttons (right click on any button, select
> "Toolbars" and click
> the option "Large buttons" and OK).
>
> DL> If you go to Edit (on the menu bar), Options,
> font size can be adjusted in
> DL> the Viewer tab you can adjust the font size
> (there are two areas of fonts,
> DL> so you will have to do both), select each item
> in the "Initial Output State"
> DL> list and increase the font to whatever is
> appropriate.
>
> DL> -----Original Message-----
> DL> From: SPSSX(r) Discussion
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> DL> Jeff
> DL> Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 8:09 PM
> DL> To: [hidden email]
> DL> Subject: SPSS for disabilities?
>
> DL> I've just learned that I will have a visually
> impaired student in one of my
> DL> classes for which I require some work with SPSS.
> I'm not sure how bad the
> DL> student's eyesight is, but from what I gather,
> it is bad enough so that she
> DL> will require a notetaker and verbal
> recordings/translations of reading
> DL> material - although she can see to some degree
> and appears to be quite
> DL> capable on a computer (presumably enlarged in
> some way). Because this is a
> DL> basic/intro class, the spss work is not
> intensive - crosstabs and
> DL> frequencies mostly.
>
> DL> Is there anything special that anyone can offer
> as to how this student
> DL> might be better able to use the software? I took
> a quick look and have
> DL> found no way to enlarge the data editor window
> and menu items (we really
> DL> won't be using syntax files) and I really didn't
> see much.
>
> --
> Regards,
> Dr. Marta Garc�a-Granero,PhD
> mailto:[hidden email]
> Statistician
>


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Re: SPSS for disabilities?

Beadle, ViAnn
In reply to this post by Jeff-125
Consider installing an assistive technology such as a screen reader or a screen magnifier. There are number or commercial screen readers available. If the machine she will be using has Windows XP, there is an accessibility setup available under Start>All Programs>Accessories>Accessibility which will configure Windows for accessibility. Similar and even better technology is available on Macs.
 

________________________________

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion on behalf of Jeff
Sent: Sun 8/27/2006 10:09 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: SPSS for disabilities?



I've just learned that I will have a visually impaired student in one of my
classes for which I require some work with SPSS. I'm not sure how bad the
student's eyesight is, but from what I gather, it is bad enough so that she
will require a notetaker and verbal recordings/translations of reading
material - although she can see to some degree and appears to be quite
capable on a computer (presumably enlarged in some way). Because this is a
basic/intro class, the spss work is not intensive - crosstabs and
frequencies mostly.

Is there anything special that anyone can offer as to how this student
might be better able to use the software? I took a quick look and have
found no way to enlarge the data editor window and menu items (we really
won't be using syntax files) and I really didn't see much.

Thanks in advance

Jeff
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Re: SPSS for disabilities?

lts1
In reply to this post by Albert-Jan Roskam
Hi Jeff,

     While these are all good suggestions, they may or may not suffice,
depending on the severity of the student's impairment.  In fact, we really
don't know.  So why not ask.  If this was one of my students, I'd contact
her (even though the first class isn't until tomorrow).  The solution may be
something simple (i.e. low-tech) like a customized magnifying overlay that
she carries with her, or she may be severe enough to have her own specially
set up laptop (as a friend of mine does), in which case it may be easier to
get her a student copy (if it would work) or limited site (no pun intended)
license that runs for a semester for her computer (does SPSS have such a
thing?).  Anyhow, you really should talk to the student and find out exactly
what's needed.

     Also, you might consider contacting the school's academic skills or
disabilities coordinator.  If you're in the U.S. your school has one.  [For
those of you not in the U.S., the Americans w/ Disabilities Act (ADA) is
complicated enough that someone is designated coordinator].  If you're not
in the U.S., you could contact whoever told you she needs a note taker.
S/he might have some insight.  Good luck and I hope this helps.

    Best,
        Lisa

Lisa T. Stickney
Ph.D. Candidate
The Fox School of Business
     and Management
Temple University
[hidden email]


----- Original Message -----
From: "Albert-jan Roskam" <[hidden email]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.spssx-l
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 4:32 AM
Subject: Re: SPSS for disabilities?


> Hi Jeff,
>
> 1--In addition to Dominic's and Martha's advice using
> Window's "Magnifying glass" program is also possible.
> I believe it is standard present in every
> installation, if not it's on the windows cd. It can be
> found under:
> Start --> Programs --> Accecoires --> Accessibility.
> There are several tools that may be useful there.
>
> 2-- Under Control Panel --> Accessibility Options,
> there are a few more things you can change, e.g.
> increasing the contrast.
>
> Cheers!
> Albert-Jan
>
> --- Marta Garc�a-Granero <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Jeff
>>
>> Besides Dominic advice, second best thing that can
>> be done is ask for
>> large buttons (right click on any button, select
>> "Toolbars" and click
>> the option "Large buttons" and OK).
>>
>> DL> If you go to Edit (on the menu bar), Options,
>> font size can be adjusted in
>> DL> the Viewer tab you can adjust the font size
>> (there are two areas of fonts,
>> DL> so you will have to do both), select each item
>> in the "Initial Output State"
>> DL> list and increase the font to whatever is
>> appropriate.
>>
>> DL> -----Original Message-----
>> DL> From: SPSSX(r) Discussion
>> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
>> DL> Jeff
>> DL> Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 8:09 PM
>> DL> To: [hidden email]
>> DL> Subject: SPSS for disabilities?
>>
>> DL> I've just learned that I will have a visually
>> impaired student in one of my
>> DL> classes for which I require some work with SPSS.
>> I'm not sure how bad the
>> DL> student's eyesight is, but from what I gather,
>> it is bad enough so that she
>> DL> will require a notetaker and verbal
>> recordings/translations of reading
>> DL> material - although she can see to some degree
>> and appears to be quite
>> DL> capable on a computer (presumably enlarged in
>> some way). Because this is a
>> DL> basic/intro class, the spss work is not
>> intensive - crosstabs and
>> DL> frequencies mostly.
>>
>> DL> Is there anything special that anyone can offer
>> as to how this student
>> DL> might be better able to use the software? I took
>> a quick look and have
>> DL> found no way to enlarge the data editor window
>> and menu items (we really
>> DL> won't be using syntax files) and I really didn't
>> see much.
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>> Dr. Marta Garc�a-Granero,PhD
>> mailto:[hidden email]
>> Statistician
>>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
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Re: SPSS for disabilities?

Art Kendall
In reply to this post by Jeff-125
If your student is using Windows,  go to <control panel> <accessibility
options> to see the kinds of things that can be done for all programs.

There is s/w that will change text on the computer to speech, try
googling <text to speech>.  Anything you have on the PC (pdf's,
handouts,  journal articles) might then be accessible.  In the 80s,
Digital, which has been absorbed in COMPAQ an then into HP,  had a
DECTalk that just connected to a printer port and had s/w to do a very
credible job of text to speech.  Now that there are PC's and they have
earphones/speakers, the software is available. Then it was free to
visually impaired and blind people. Today?
there are write ups at:  (providing exemplar links from Google does not
constitute endorsement)
http://www.synapseadaptive.com/gw/decpc.htm
http://www.cs.cornell.edu/Info/People/raman/emacspeak/dectalk-express.html

It may or may not help to use an LCD projector on her computer.    If
the school supplies the computers, a large screen high resolution
monitor may help.
A samsung 215t is $400-$600.

If you are in the US, contact your local / state association for the
blind,  and your state department of vocational rehabilitation.  They
may have recommendations, and even provide equipment.  Your school may
have someone in charge of ADA compliance.

wrt your presentation, You may want to be sure that your LCD projector
is powerful enough for the room, that you use large fonts on paper
handouts, and make text material available online.   Since, she may not
get as much from visual input, you may want to try to improve the
quality of auditory input.  Arrange for a particularly quiet classroom.
If you can get a very few hours with an acting teacher, singing teacher,
or public speaking teacher you may be able to improve your oral
presentation.

Improvements in the communication channels may well help other students
as well.  If your message is not received, it cannot be retained.


Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants

Jeff wrote:

> I've just learned that I will have a visually impaired student in one
> of my
> classes for which I require some work with SPSS. I'm not sure how bad the
> student's eyesight is, but from what I gather, it is bad enough so
> that she
> will require a notetaker and verbal recordings/translations of reading
> material - although she can see to some degree and appears to be quite
> capable on a computer (presumably enlarged in some way). Because this
> is a
> basic/intro class, the spss work is not intensive - crosstabs and
> frequencies mostly.
>
> Is there anything special that anyone can offer as to how this student
> might be better able to use the software? I took a quick look and have
> found no way to enlarge the data editor window and menu items (we really
> won't be using syntax files) and I really didn't see much.
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Jeff
>
>
Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants
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Re: SPSS for disabilities?

Barth Riley
Here are some additional options for making SPSS more accessible...

In SPSS, go to the View menu and select Fonts. That will allow you to
increase the font size and select the font type for the data viewer. Then
you can go to the Edit menu, click Options, and go to the Viewer tab.
There you can select fonts for various elements (title, tables, etc.) of
the SPSS output file. To increase the size of the menu bar, right click on
the Windows desktop and select properties. Go to the Appearance tabl to
set the font size (large/very large).

Barth
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Re: SPSS for disabilities?

Jeff-125
In reply to this post by lts1
At 06:15 AM 8/28/2006, Lisa wrote:
>Hi Jeff,
>
>     While these are all good suggestions, they may or may not suffice,
>depending on the severity of the student's impairment.  In fact, we really
>don't know.  So why not ask.  If this was one of my students, I'd contact
>her (even though the first class isn't until tomorrow).


Thanks all for the suggestions. She's already contacted me and we've
already discussed this. I was just getting some additional information in
advance. My sense is that she already has some type of set-up on a home
machine that allows her to work on the computer well as she contacted me
via email and doesn't seem to have a problem using that medium. I'm not
sure about the classroom - we have rooms ranging from high-tech labs with
large built-in projectors, gigabit connections, etc. to ancient rooms where
the tech people manually carry in a laptop and small projector daily where
there is no internet access. This semester I was unlucky enough to get the
latter. One issue is what to do in the classroom, the other is what she
will do at home. Our disabilities office will take care of everything else
for me.

I'll have to check out XPs accessibility options - there is no doubt the
student is fully aware of them, but this is all new to me. I have no idea
what JAWS is, but I'll check it out.




Jeff