Use statistical software to create, interpret, and analyze two histograms in a Word document.
Exploring the associations between some variables in the courseroom using correlations might provide some important information about learner success. You’ll need to pay attention to both magnitude, which is the strength of the association, and directionality, which is the direction (positive or negative) of the association. During this assessment, you’ll start learning about how to best approach correlational analyses like these and start getting some answers. You’ll explore the relationships that may or may not exist in your courseroom data.
In this assessment, you’ll get a chance to run and interpret your first inferential statistics analysis: correlations. Your readings and the Course Study Guide will help you in your efforts.
For this assessment, you will use the Data Analysis and Application template (DAA Template [DOCX] Download DAA Template [DOCX]).
- For help with statistical software, refer to the JASP Step-by-Step: Correlations [PDF] Download JASP Step-by-Step: Correlations [PDF]document.
- View JASP Speedrun: Correlations [Video] for a brief tutorial video on this assessment.
- Refer to the 7864 Course Study Guide [PDF] Download 7864 Course Study Guide [PDF]for information on analyses and interpretation.
- For information on the data set, refer to the 7864 Data Set Instructions [PDF] Download 7864 Data Set Instructions [PDF]document.
The grades.jasp Download grades.jaspfile is a sample data set. The data represent a teacher’s recording of student demographics and performance on quizzes and a final exam across three sections of the course.
This assessment is on correlations. You will analyze the following variables in the grades.jasp Download grades.jaspdata set:
Variables and Definitions
| Variable | Definition |
| Quiz 1 | Quiz 1: number of correct answers |
| GPA | Previous grade point average |
| Total | Total number of points earned in class |
| Final | Final exam: number of correct answers |
The DAA Template [DOCX] Download DAA Template [DOCX]has five sections:
- Data Analysis Plan.
- Testing Assumptions.
- Results & Interpretation.
- Statistical Conclusions.
- Application.
Step 1: Write Section 1 of the DAA: Data Analysis Plan
- Name the four variables used in this analysis and whether they are categorical or continuous.
- State a research question, null hypothesis, and alternate hypothesis for the total-final correlation.
- State a research question, null hypothesis, and alternate hypothesis for the gpa-quiz1 correlation.
Step 2: Write Section 2 of the DAA: Testing Assumptions
Test for one of the assumptions of correlation—normality.
- Create a descriptive statistics table in the statistical software to assess normality. This table should include the four variables named above including skew and kurtosis for each variable.
- Paste the table in the DAA template.
- Interpret the skewness and kurtosis values and determine whether the assumption of normality was violated or not violated.
Step 3: Write Section 3 of the DAA: Results & Interpretation
- Using the statistical software, paste the intercorrelation matrix for the four variables into the document.
- Below the output, first report the total-final correlation including degrees of freedom, correlation coefficient, and p value. Specify whether or not to reject the null hypothesis for this correlation.
- Second, report the gpa-quiz1 correlation including degrees of freedom, correlation coefficient, and p value. Specify whether or not to reject the null hypothesis for this correlation.
Step 4: Write Section 4 of the DAA: Statistical Conclusions
- Provide a brief summary of your analysis and the conclusions drawn about correlations.
- Analyze the limitations of the statistical test and/or possible alternative explanations for your results.
Step 5: Write Section 5 of the DAA: Application
- Analyze how you might use correlations in your field of study.
- Name two variables that would work for such an analysis and why studying the relationship may be important to the field or practice.
Submit your completed DAA Template as an attached Word document in the assessment area.
7864 JASP Speedrun: Correlations (kaltura.com)
The following statistical analysis software is required to complete your assessments in this course:
Refer to the Tools and Software: JASP page on Campus for general information. Make sure that your statistical software is downloaded, installed, and running properly on your computer.
