EXERCISE ON CONSTRUCTING TABLES

Use the data file, "1991 General Social Survey.sav"  in SPSS to print out the following information from SPSS:

A cross-tabulation that looks at the relationship of General Happiness by Race.

Mean score of education by gender.

Construct tables in WORD or EXCEL to disseminate this information to the public.

Protocol for Constructing Tables

Only select column percents in SPSS

Use the independent variable as the column variable.

Use the dependent variable as the row variable.

If you are doing a descriptive study, use the variable that is logically expected to produce a change in the others the independent variable.

To construct a table, information (including column and row headings) can be entered into the cells. Data can be cut and pasted into a WORD document. Use the FORMAT menu (borders and shading) or Table menu (table properties) to insert borders and gridlines into the table.

If you are constructing a table in word use the table command and indicate how many rows and columns are needed. You need one column for column headings and one column each for each of the independent variable categories. You need one row for the row headings, a row for each of the row categories, and a row for total frequencies or percents.

If you prefer to display frequencies or percents in a chart - use the GRAPH menu in SPSS to construct them. You can also construct graphs in EXCEL. See the APA manual, however, for proper format for Figures before you cut and paste charts into your project or thesis.

Statistical information in a cross-tab can include frequency counts (numbers) and percents. You can use percents only - but you will need to indicate, either in the column headings or a footnote, the total number of observations in the column or entire table.

Statistical information for a comparison of means should include both means and standard deviations (SD).

CAUTION: You do not need to have a table in your project for each question on your survey. You do, however, need either information in the text or a table or chart for each of the primary research questions you have listed in Chapter 3.

Table formats can include:

Cross-tabs

Table 1

Support for Political Parties by Gender

Political Party Female Male
Democratic 60% 35%
Green 10% 5%
Republican 30% 60%
Total 100% 100%

You can construct tables for multiple questions:

Table 2

 

 Frequently

 Sometimes

 Never

 Intake

 

 

 

Assessment

 

 

 

Engagement

 

 

 

Interviewing

 

 

 

Implementation/Intervention

 

 

 

Evaluation of Practice

 

 

 

A good format for displaying means for multiple questions is:

Table

Practice Knowledge          

Practice Knowledge

Mean (SD)

I have had professional practice experiences wiith culturally diverse clients and programs.   

 

I know how to evaluate the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of my racism, prejudice, and discrimination.

 

I am familiar with the history of oppression against members of diverse groups.

 

I am familiar with cultural values different from my own.            

 

 You may also do one overall chart with demographic information. For example:

 

 

Table

Demographics

    Gender           
        Male                            45%
        Female                        55%

Age                                    32 (SD = 5)

Ethnicity
    African American             10%
    American Indian                 5%
    Asian                                20%
    Caucasian                         20%
    Latino                               30%
    Other                                15%

 PRACTICAL HINT: When constructing your survey for your study, you might want to type it up so that information on categories is already formatted using the table command. When constructing your tables for your project and thesis, you can then just cut and paste the table from your survey into your manuscript. For example,

Practice Knowledge

1

 2 3 4 5

I have had professional practice experiences with culturally diverse clients and programs.   

 

        

I know how to evaluate the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of my racism, prejudice, and discrimination.

 

        

I am familiar with the history of oppression against members of diverse groups.

 

        

I am familiar with cultural values different from my own.            

 

        

You would be able to "reuse" the first column - delete the column headings and use any blank columns to display means or percentages!