BUSI 614

SPSS QUANTITATIVE ASSIGNMENT 5 INSTRUCTIONS

This assignment concerns an important step in data analysis: recoding. Recoding input variables
(questionnaire results) is a routine task in SPSS. Recoding input variables is often used to change
the codes for categories of a particular input variable or when there are too many variable input
options for one question within a questionnaire. The original research design of the questionnaire
may have warranted the inclusion of too many options. Often, the researcher is curious or
interested in stating all of the variable input options for a given question or interested in past
research endeavors that used the same scale as input variables.
When certain statistical calculations are run, the format of the input variable is non-negotiable.
Most of the time, variables need to be combined when the number of particular responses for one
category is too small to analyze. For example, a questionnaire could have asked respondents to
give a specific age, which could be anywhere from 1100 (100 choices). The original responses
(continuous data) could be recoded into a new variable (ordinal data) that reflect 35 categories
(30 and younger, 3150, 5170, and 71 and older).
Below is an example of recoding:
New Codes
Original Code
0 = never
1 = less than once a year
2 = about twice a year
3 = several times a year
4 = about once a month
5 = several times a month
6 = once day every week
7 = weekly
8 = several times a week
9 = no answer

1 = never to infrequently
1 = never to infrequently
1 = never to infrequently
1 = never to infrequently
2 = relatively frequently
2 = relatively frequently
2 = relatively frequently
2 = relatively frequently
2 = relatively frequently
9 = no answer

To answer these questions, open up the Dell SPSS data set. If you have any questions about
recoding, check out the websites below and the SPSS tutorials.
1. Recode the respondents based on total hours per week spent online into 2 groups: 5
hours or less (light users) and 610 hours (medium users). Calculate a frequency
distribution.
2. Recode the respondents based on total hours per week spent online into 3 groups: 5
hours or less (light users), 610 hours (medium users), and 11 hours or more (heavy
users). Calculate a frequency distribution.
3. Form a new variable that denotes the total number of things that people have ever done
online based on q2_1 to q2_7. Run a frequency distribution of the new variable and
interpret the results. Note that the missing values for q2_1 to q2_7 are coded as 0.

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4. Recode q4 (overall satisfaction) into 2 groups: very satisfied (rating of 1) and

somewhat satisfied or dissatisfied (ratings of 24). Calculate a frequency distribution of
the new variable and interpret the results. To interpret the results, run a frequency
distribution of the original variable and compare and contrast it with the new frequency
distribution of the new variable. Analyze the difference between these 2 frequency
distributions along the dimensions of mean, standard deviation, range, kurtosis, and
skewness. What do these differences mean?
5. Recode q5 (would recommend) into 2 groups: definitely would recommend (rating of
1) and probably would or less likely to recommend (ratings of 25). Calculate a
frequency distribution of the new variable and interpret the results. To interpret the
results, run a frequency distribution of the original variable and compare and contrast it
with the new frequency distribution of the new variable. Analyze the difference between
these 2 frequency distributions along the dimensions of mean, standard deviation, range,
kurtosis, and skewness. What do these differences mean?
6. Recode q6 (likelihood of choosing Dell) into 2 groups: definitely would choose (rating
of 1) and probably would or less likely to choose (ratings of 25). Calculate a
frequency distribution of the new variable and interpret the results. To interpret the
results, run a frequency distribution of the original variable and compare and contrast it
with the new frequency distribution of the new variable. Analyze the difference between
these 2 frequency distributions along the dimensions of mean, standard deviation, range,
kurtosis, and skewness. What do these differences mean?
7. Recode q9_5 per into 3 groups: definitely or probably would have purchased (ratings
of 12), might or might not have purchased (rating of 3), and probably or definitely
would not have purchased (ratings of 45). Calculate a frequency distribution of the new
variable and interpret the results. To interpret the results, run a frequency distribution of
the original variable and compare and contrast it with the new frequency distribution of
the new variable. Analyze the difference between these 2 frequency distributions along
the dimensions of mean, standard deviation, range, kurtosis, and skewness. What do these
differences mean?
8. Recode q9_10 per into 3 groups: definitely or probably have purchased and might or
might not have purchased (ratings 1 3), probably would not have purchased (rating
of 4), and definitely would not have purchased (rating of 5). Calculate a frequency
distribution of the new variable and interpret the results. To interpret the results, run a
frequency distribution of the original variable and compare and contrast it with the new
frequency distribution of the new variable. Analyze the difference between these 2
frequency distributions along the dimensions of mean, standard deviation, range, kurtosis,
and skewness. What do these differences mean?

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9. Recode the demographics as follows:

a. Combine the 2 lowest education (q11) categories into a single category. Thus,
some high school or less and high school graduate will be combined into a
single category labeled high school graduate or less.
b. Recode age (q12) into 4 new categories: 1829, 3039, 4049, and 50 or
older.
c. Combine the 2 lowest income (q13) categories into a single category labeled
Under $30,000.
d. Calculate frequency distributions of the new variables and interpret the results. To
interpret the results, run a frequency distribution of the original variable and
compare and contrast it with the new frequency distribution of the new variable.
Analyze the difference between these 2 frequency distributions along the
dimensions of mean, standard deviation, range, kurtosis, and skewness. What do
these differences mean?
Before continuing with the steps below, watch Presentation: SPSS Recode into New Variables,
found in the Reading & Study folder for Module/Week 6.
To recode, go to: Transform => Recode into Different Variables => Select variable to recode =>
Select a Name and Label for the new variable => click Change => Old and New Values =>
Range Value Through Highest (= 5 for example) => New Value = 1 +> Add => then Range Value
Through Lowest (= 6 for example) => New Value = 2 +> Add.
For frequency distribution: Analyze => Descriptive Statistics => Frequencies => Select
Variable => Histogram and check Show Normal Curve on Histogram.
Including a Narrative in Your SPS Output File
You will note that some of the questions require you to interpret the results. SPSS allows you to
include a narrative at any point in the Output file. To include a narrative, follow these simple
steps:
Go to the point in the Output file that you wish to insert new text (highlight the point on the
menu to the left), and then go to Insert => New Text.
Including any text in the Output file will reduce the amount of work you need to do in creating a
Word document for the narrative. Consequently, you will only have to submit one file (the SPSS
Output file) rather than multiple files.
Important: Do not restrict yourself to the steps listed. Have fun and experiment with
options/layout/different stats options/graphs, etc. Read up on how to interpret results.
This assignment is due by 11:59 (ET) p.m. on Sunday of Module/Week 6.

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