SPSS Exercise 3

1. Open the dataset in SPSS. You can find the data set in the V: drive (in folder "aaa mcom 490". The dataset is called "hezbollah_israel_war.sav" (ANY FILE WOULD WORK!)

2. Go to "variable view" and observe the following variables: V7, V21, V39 and V40. Check their "Labels", "Values" , "Measurement"... (do not print this section; just make sure you are familiar with what these varialbes are measuring.

3. Use the ANALYZE/DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS/FREQUENCIES menu to obtain Frequency distributions (tables) for variables V7, V21, V39, and V40. Add mean, median and mode to the output (using the STATISTICS button).

   1. For each of the three frequency tables: Write one sentence summarizing what you understood from each table, highlighting the most significant information/numbers.
   2. For the mean/median/mode table: Make sure you circle the correct statistic and write one sentence about it. Remember "use the most powerful statistic at the lowest level of measurement." This table has THREE statistics and FOUR variables. You need to choose ONLY ONE STATISTIC (either the mean, median or the mode) for each of the four variables in that table.
4. Recode variable V7 using the following steps:
   1. Use menu TRANSFORM // RECODE INTO DIFFERENT VARIABLE
   2. Move variable V7 into the big box on the right using the arrow.
   3. Give it a new NAME and LABEL (use the following; Name: V7b; Label: Name of country of news source recoded")
   4. Click on OLD AND NEW VALUES
      1. Under OLD VALUE//VALUE put 17; Under NEW VALUE//VALUE put 1; then click ADD
      2. Then again, under OLD VALUE//VALUE put 18; Under NEW VALUE//VALUE put 2; then click ADD
      3. Then again, under OLD VALUE choose option ALL OTHER VALUES; Under NEW VALUE//VALUE put 3; then click ADD
      4. Click CONTINUE
      5. NOTE: What you did here is told SPSS that you now want value=17 (which was originally the U.S. in V7) to become value=1 (in V7b); and value=18 (UK) to become value=2; and all other values to become value=3. This will make the new variable (V7b) have only three levels: 1-US, 2-UK and 3-Other.
   5. In the original box, Click CHANGE (button under Name/Lable); then click OK
   6. Go to VARIABLE VIEW and scroll down to the last variable. You will see your newly recoded variable there.
      1. Give it the appropriate MEASRUEMENT
      2. Give it the appropriate VALUES (1=US; 2=UK; 3=OTHER)
   7. YOU'RE DONE RECODING THE VARIABLE!

5. Use the ANALYZE/DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS/FREQUENCIES menu to obtain a Frequency distribution (table) for variable V7b (Remember to use the recoded variable V7B NOT V7; It's at the bottom of the list.). Compare the original frequency table for V7 withthe new one for V7b. Don't write anything here...

6. Use the ANALYZE/DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS/CROSS TABS to create a cross tabulation for V7b and V39 (note: V7b not V7).
   1. The ‘independent variable’ should be presented as a ROW and the ‘dependent variable’ as a COLUMN.
   2. Make sure you add a Chi Square Test (under STASTICS button)
   3. Make sure you add the column, row and total percentages (under CELLS button).
   4. Try to make sense of the cross tabs. Write one sentence comparing two ROW percentages and one sentence comparing two COLUMN percentages. Don't forget to comment on the value of chi-square! (ex: 20% of French news sources were negative, while 30% were positive)

8. Repeat part 6 using the variables: V7b and V40 (note: V7b not V7).