All posts by kreniske

lode runner

Step 2 and 3 of 4 Steps to Basic Stats: Running Statistics

Step 2 and 3 of 4 Steps to Basic Stats: Running Statistics

After deciding on an appropriate analysis – it’s time to run the data!lode runner

There are many programs that can be used to run statistics. This post will deal primarily with using SPSS.

This is perhaps the most straightforward step.

I suggest Googling the analysis, with phrasing along the lines of “How to run an ANOVA”. I’ve found that youtube videos can be extremely helpful for learning how to run new analyses  – especially using SPSS.

One of the Youtube channels I reference is How2Stats, the author keeps the clips short and mainly focuses on the analysis at hand while covering some background material. how2stats youtube icon

Another Youtube channel whose posts I’ve used in the past is TheRMUoHP Biostatistics Resource Channel.

I suggest splitting the screen and literally going through the video step by step with your SPSS spreadsheet.

Disclaimer: I’m rushing a little as I need to share these posts with my psych 250 students ASAP (more to add in the future).

Most of these videos will also explain how to interpret the results. thinking orangutanHowever, there are a number of other sites that detail exactly how to write up results in APA style. I’ll link to a few of my favorites in Step 4!

Illustration, Fox writing with a quill pen, J. Mason, G. Greatbach, 1852, New York Public Library

Apple pockets and Oranges

4 Steps to Basic Stats…Step 1: Selecting an Analysis

Apple pockets and Oranges
Apple pockets & oranges

4 Basic Steps to Stats

In much of my research I use mixed methods designs, meaning I combine qualitative and quantitative information. I’ve also been teaching a psych research methods course for the past couple of years in which students design and conduct their own final research projects and questions invariably arise about what stats to run. I encourage my students to follow a similar approach to the one I use when considering analyses for a particular project or to answer a particular question.

Here are my 4 basic steps to stats:

Step 1: Selecting an Analysis Apple pockets and Oranges
 Step 2: Run the Analysis lode runner
Step 3: Interpret the Results thinking orangutan
Step 4: Write the Results in APA FormatIllustration, Fox writing with a quill pen, J. Mason, G. Greatbach, 1852, New York Public Library

Step 1: Selecting an Analysis

The first, and probably most challenging  step involves deciding what analyses to run.

One useful resources for selecting the appropriate analyses is a page created by Anne Marenco, currently at College of the Canyons and formerly of California State Northridge University.

Scroll down the page and Marenco lays out some excellent tables that can help a researcher decide what statistical analyses to use when. At the bottom of the page Marenco writes out a few Q’s and A’s :

“When trying to decide what test to use, ask yourself the following…

Am I interested in…?:

description (association) – correlations, factor analysis, path analysis

explanation (prediction) – regression, logistic regression, discriminant analysis

intervention (group differences) – t-test, ANOVA, MANOVA, Chi square”

Another similar and useful page is UCLA’s What’s Statistical Analysis Should I Use.

I’ve also found reading through comment pages and blogs is a great way to learn from people who are wrestling with or have wrestled with similar questions.

The Analysis Factor is one blog I stumbled on the other day. Judging from a quick read it looked quite active – and the bloggers seemed really responsive to questions posted in the comments section.

Talk Stats is another active blog where a researcher can post and answer stats questions.

Hopefully these resources will be helpful for thinking through which statistical analysis to use. I also suggest talking to people about your thought process. If you have any friends who are familiar with statistics – share your ideas with them and see what they think – or email your professor and see what they think about your general direction and proposed analyses.

Once you’ve decided it’s time RUN the analyses. lode runner

Posts on Steps 2, 3 and 4 to come! 

My Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) Austin Experience

I have only one regret with regards to my  Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) Austin experience.

The President of SRA, Stephen T. Russell delivered a spectacular address:Stephen T Russel Urgency

The above photo depicts a key moment of his speech where he questioned who gets to define the evidence base, proven strategies and what is ready to communicate? The last point on the slide questions the boundaries between science and advocacy. Russell asked the audience to consider if scientists can and should be objective.

In other highlights:
SRA Poster, Kreniske and Ruck
 At my poster withProfessor Ruck

I met a number of engaging grad students, my poster was well received, and I reconnected with one of my former professors, Jeff Cookston, from San Francisco State University.

It was a great conference – especially for grad students or “emerging scholars” – like me – they even had a room for us with free coffee and tea!

Just a few blocks from the conference I stumbled upon a hint of what keeps  Austin weird as I perused this

                        funky art gallery…

monkey lovehummingbird printdali cereal

 

And then spent some quality time with my brother and sister in law!

My only regret?

Stubbs doesn’t open til 11am so I couldn’t pull a Frank Underwood and eat ribs for breakfast.

Stubbs BBQ AM
Stubbs BMQ AM

 

The Craziest Thing About March Madness

Boomer ball

The craziest thing about March Madness is that the NCAA, TV networks and college coaches make millions, while the players themselves reap non of the profits.

Recently, the National Labor Relations board ruled that football players at Northwestern University may have the right to unionize.

In a related article William C. Rhoden presents a clear argument for why college athletes should be compensated:

“The N.C.A.A. has a wonderful business model, one that any entrepreneur would love to have: a  profitable business in which your employees help generate billions of dollars and basically work for the honor and the glory of the business and little more”.

And Rhoden concludes with these words:

“Expect the N.C.A.A. to fight this with all its resources.  If the decision stands and other players at other universities try to unionize, the N.C.A.A.’s house of cards could collapse. It does not have a winning argument when it insists that it is not a commercial enterprise. Indeed, the organization argues against itself with each day of March Madness.

Face it: The jig is up.”

Boomer Ball $
Boomer Ball $

Defending My Dissertation Proposal with Prezi

In late December I successfully defended my dissertation proposal, titled Writing as Development and the Implications of Blogging. Despite my cautious review of Prezi, I decided to use it for the defense for a few key reasons.

1. Powerpoint is soporific

Powerpoint is soporific – it makes people in the room tired. This isn’t always the case – some people are great with PowerPoint, I’m just not one of them. Prezi designs are sleek, so compared to PowerPoint, it takes a lot less work to make your presentation look good.

2. Reinstated Privacy Function

locked

Second, Prezi has reinstated the private function. When I wrote the previous review, Prezi had temporarily removed the feature that allowed users to create private presentations. This was problematic. For example, consider my  my proposal presentation. After presenting I hoped to get feedback from my committee (of three professors) and then make revisions before proceeding with the final paper and subsequent data collection. I wanted to be able to decide after the presentation what was public and private and what would be changed.

Luckily Prezi reinstated the locked or private presentation function. As you might notice I made the presentation private and have kept it that way. My committee gave me critical feedback that changed the research method and some of the final directions. I’d like my presentation to reflect these changes before I make it public. In addition, I have yet to do the research. I know it is unlikely, but what if someone were to see my presentation and be able carry out my design before I do!

3. Familiar Turf

Finally,  Prezi needs the latest Flash player to run, so if you are using an unfamiliar computer this could be a problem. However, my defense was at the Graduate Center – where I spend a lot of time so I was able to test out the computer well in advance. Looking ahead this may be an issue.

And how was my proposal defense you might ask?

I’d rather not write too much about that…at least the Prezi worked! Overall, it went well. The basic format was as follows, I talked for about 20 -25 minutes,  then each of the three committee members offered  some excellent feedback.  I later incorporated their comments into a revised copy of my proposal, which I  submitted to The Graduate Center. If you’re interested in the content of the proposal you can check out a brief description on my New Media Lab page.

And the future?

Jean Piaget Society Banner

I’m slated to present the initial results of my research in late May at the Jean Piaget Society Conference in San Francisco. I will not be able to test out the computers beforehand. If I choose Prezi I must accept the possibility that it may not work. But no matter what presentation software I choose – there’s  a risk of technical failure, and based on my experiences Prezi only slightly increases this risk. Prezi as a PDFDownloading the Prezi as a PDF is a good backup, it won’t look as good but at least if Prezi does not work I will still be able to scroll through the PDF as I talk. Even if I know there won’t be any tech issues, I’ve found printing out the PDF’s is useful as it helps keep me on track during a talk and I can always check the printout for what’s next before moving what’s projected on the screen. I’ll be sure to post an update on how Prezi worked after the conference!

 

 

New Blog Projects, My dissertation and The GSTA

I’ll still be posting here but I’ve recently taken on two new blogging projects.

One of these projects is related to my doctoral research where I’m the super admin for about 100 blogs, so far 22 are up and running! These blogs are networked and private except to registered users. More to come on my research and related issues and triumphs from this network, and here’s the link to my New Media Lab page if you’d like some more details.

GSTA LOGO

I’m also the Editor along with a few colleagues at the Graduate Center of the Graduate Student Teaching Association Blog (GSTA). The GSTA is part of APA’s Division 2, The Society for the Teaching of Psychology.

We just published our first substantive post today: Encouraging Inter-Student Participation in Large Lecture Sections using Discussion Board Forum, by Danielle DeNigris  – check it out!