ASSIGNMENT 3: UNIVARIATE ANALYSES OF QUANTITATIVE DATA
Overview
In this assignment, you will be conducting univariate analyses of 10 variables. For each variable, Based on these frequency distributions you need to determine (a) whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio, (b) explain why it is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio, and (c) based on that determination you need to calculate the appropriate measure(s) of central tendency: (1) the mode for nominal variables, (2) the mode AND the median for ordinal level variables, and (3) the mode, median, and the mean for interval/ratio level variables.
Example Frequency Distribution
Here is an example frequency distribution so that you know how to interpret them.
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
Did you vote
in the 2004
election? VOTED 898
DID NOT VOTE 295
INELIGIBLE 69
TOTAL 1,262
Variable 1: Race
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
RACE WHITE 962
BLACK 183
OTHER 131
TOTAL 1,276
Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Why is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Based on whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio calculate the appropriate measures of central tendency
Mode:
Median:
Mean:
Variable 2: Years of Education
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
Years of Education 0 3
2 6
3 1
4 1
5 3
6 11
7 7
8 19
9 28
10 32
11 54
12 325
13 126
14 195
15 65
16 204
17 57
18 76
19 24
20 38
TOTAL 1,275
Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Why is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Based on whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio calculate the appropriate measures of central tendency .
Mode:
Median:
Mean:
Variable 3: Years of Education
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
Highest Degree Earned Less Than HIGH SCHOOL 145
HIGH SCHOOL 651
JUNIOR COLLEGE 110
BACHELOR 233
GRADUATE 137
TOTAL 1,276
Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Why is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Based on whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio calculate the appropriate measures of central tendency .
Mode:
Median:
Mean:
Variable 4: What is your marital status?
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
MARITAL
Status MARRIED 644
WIDOWED 87
DIVORCED 210
SEPARATED 37
NEVER MARRIED 298
TOTAL 1,276
Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Why is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Based on whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio calculate the appropriate measures of central tendency (up to all three – see overview above for a refresher).
Mode:
Median:
Mean:
Variable 5: How many children do you have?
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
How Many
Children
Do You Have? 0 349
1 205
2 337
3 195
4 110
5 34
6 25
7 11
8 8
TOTAL 1,274
Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Why is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Based on whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio calculate the appropriate measures of central tendency
Mode:
Median:
Mean:
Variable 6: What are your political views?
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
Political Views EXTREMELY LIBERAL 42
LIBERAL 144
SLIGHTLY LIBERAL 153
MODERATE 465
SLGHTLY CONSERVATIVE 177
CONSERVATIVE 213
EXTRMLY CONSERVATIVE 48
TOTAL 1,242
Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Why is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Based on whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio calculate the appropriate measures of central tendency .
Mode:
Median:
Mean:
Variable 7: How happy are you?
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
Overall, How
Happy Are You? VERY HAPPY 413
PRETTY HAPPY 710
NOT TOO HAPPY 151
TOTAL 1,274
Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Why is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Based on whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio calculate the appropriate measures of central tendency .
Mode:
Median:
Mean:
Variable 8: Do you think other people are mostly fair with each other?
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
Do you think people are mostly fair with on another, or do they mostly take advantage of other people? TAKE ADVANTAGE 340
FAIR 405
IT DEPENDS 93
TOTAL 838
Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Why is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Based on whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio calculate the appropriate measures of central tendency (up to all three – see overview above for a refresher).
Mode:
Median:
Mean:
Variable 9: What region of the country did you live in when you were 16?
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
What region of the country
did you live in when you
were 16? FOREIGN 100
NEW ENGLAND 42
MIDDLE ATLANTIC 157
E. NOR. CENTRAL 253
W. NOR. CENTRAL 99
SOUTH ATLANTIC 225
E. SOU. CENTRAL 75
W. SOU. CENTRAL 114
MOUNTAIN 60
PACIFIC 151
TOTAL 1,276
Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Why is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Based on whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio calculate the appropriate measures of central tendency (up to all three – see overview above for a refresher).
Mode:
Median:
Mean:
Variable 10: Religious Preference
Frequency Distribution
Cells contain:
-N of cases Distribution
What is your
religious preference? PROTESTANT 691
CATHOLIC 300
JEWISH 22
NONE 188
OTHER (SPECIFY) 16
BUDDHISM 11
HINDUISM 6
MOSLEM/ISLAM 2
ORTHODOX-CHRISTIAN 6
CHRISTIAN 26
NATIVE AMERICAN 1
INTER-NONDENOMINATIONAL 2
TOTAL 1,271
Is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Why is this variable nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio?
Based on whether the variable is nominal, ordinal, or interval/ratio calculate the appropriate measures of central tendency
