SPSS Data Assignment

Abigail Constant
December 8, 2014
Wayne State University

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Part I
Research Questions, null and alternative hypotheses, and Data Analysis Plan
1 Pearson r
a Research Question: Is there a relationship between an individuals level of
happiness and their attitude toward trying heroine?
b Null hypothesis: There is no relationship between level of happiness and attitude
toward trying heroine.
c Alternative (Research) hypothesis: There is a significant relationship between
level of happiness and attitude toward trying heroine.
2

Chi Square
a Research Question: Is there a relationship between race and where you grew up?
b Null hypothesis: There is no relationship between race and where you grew up.
c Alternative hypothesis: There is a significant relationship between race and where
you grew up.

T-test or Analysis of Variance (you can select either test)

a Research Question: Is there a relationship between gender and the number of
times youve used marijuana?
b Null hypothesis: There is no relationship between gender and the number of times
youve used marijuana.
c Alternative hypothesis: There is a significant relationship between gender and the
number of times youve used marijuana.

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Data and Methods

Overview of the Data Set
Data were drawn from the Monitoring the Future Study conducted by the University of
Michigans Institute for Social Research (Resko, 2014). The study measures changes in beliefs,
attitudes, and behavior of secondary school students, college students, and young adults in the
United States. The study also monitors attitudes towards drugs and alcohol held by this
population. The longitudinal data allows for the examination of attitudes and trends among youth
toward substance use. Data can be used to examine attitudes and trends of drug use in different
demographic groups, based on gender, race/ethnicity, region of the country, community size,
parents level of education and plans following high school graduation (Resko, 2014).
Purpose of the Current Study
The current study utilizes data analysis to examine attitudes towards and patterns of
substance use among secondary school students, college students, and young adults in the United
States. Specifically, we examine three research questions: 1) is there a relationship between an
individuals level of happiness and their attitude toward trying heroine? 2) Is there a relationship
between race and where you grew up? and 3) Is there a relationship between gender and the
number of times youve used marijuana?
Measures
Demographic measures, including age (in years), race/ethnicity (Black, White, Hispanic),
and gender (male, female) were self-reported within the survey. Data are collected in the
classroom using closed-ended surveys administered by university staff (Resko, 2014).
Level of happiness was measured on an interval/ratio level. Participants were asked to
self-report their level of happiness (very happy, happy, not happy).
Attitude toward trying heroine was measured on an interval/ratio level. Participants were
asked to self-report their attitude toward trying heroine (dont disapprove, disapprove, strongly
disapprove).
The number of times youve used marijuana was measured on an interval/ratio level.
Participants were asked to self-report the number of times they have used marijuana (never, 1-2
times, 3-5 times, 6-9 times, 10-19 times, 20-39 times, 40+ times).

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Results
Results: Descriptive Statistics
Characteristics of the study sample are presented in Tables 1 and 2. The sample was
almost evenly split between males (45.1%) and females (54.9%). The sample included
participants of different races including black (10.5%), white (72.7%), and Hispanic (12.3%).
The sample included participants with differing levels of happiness, with an average response of
pretty happy (M=2.08, SD=.580). The majority of participants have never tried marijuana
(55.8%). Furthermore, participants demonstrate a strong disapproval of trying heroine (M=2.72,
SD=.574). Lastly, the majority of participants grew up in a small town (20.9%) while only 4.9%
of participants grew up in a very large city.
Results: Correlation
A Pearson product moment correlation was calculated in order to determine whether there was a
significant relationship between an in individuals level of happiness and their attitude toward
trying heroine. Level of happiness is significantly correlated with attitudes toward trying heroine
(p<.001), however the correlation was week (r=.10).
Results: Chi-square
A Pearson chi-square test of independence was performed to examine the relationship between
race and where you grew up. The relationship between these variables was statistically
significant, (N= 1281), x2 = 174.02, p<.001. This indicates that there is a significant relationship
between race and where you grew up.
Results: t-test
An independent samples t-test was conducted to determine whether there is a significant
relationship between gender and the number of times youve used marijuana. The test indicates
that females (M=2.4, SD=2.1) and males (M=2.9, SD=2.5) display a significant difference in the
number of times they have tried marijuana, t(1379)=3.458, p=.001.

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Table 1: Characteristics of the Sample
n (%)
Gender
Male
Female
How many times tried
marijuana?
Never
1-2 times
3-5 times
6-9 times
10-19 times
20-39 times
40+ times
Race
Black
White
Hispanic
Where grew up?
Dk/Mixed
Farm
Country
Small Town
Medium Size City
Suburb of Medium Size City
Large City
Suburb of Large Size City
Very Large City
Suburb of Very Large City

637(45.1%)
775(54.9%)

801 (55.8%)
146 (10.2%)
92 (6.4%)
58 (4.0%)
68 (4.7%)
61 (4.3%)
209 (14.6%)
165 (10.5%)
931 (72.7%)
185 (12.3%)
158 (10.5%)
158 (10.5%)
177 (11.8%)
314 (20.9%)
184 (12.3%)
165 (11.0%)
158 (10.5%)
127 (8.5%)
74 (4.9%)
85 (5.7%)

Table 2: Characteristics of the Sample

Level of happiness
Attitude toward trying heroine

N
1485
1470

Mean
2.08
2.72

SD
.580
.574

References
Resko, S. M. (2014). Monitoring the Future. In L.H. Cousins (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Human

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Services and Diversity. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.