SPSS Assignment Part 1 Instructions Describing a Normative Sample When it comes to the use of psychological tests, one approach that both researchers…

SPSS Assignment Part 1 Instructions
Describing a Normative Sample
When it comes to the use of psychological tests, one approach that both researchers and clinicians take in trying to understand participants’ performance is a norm-referenced approach. With a norm-referenced test, the test is given to a large, representative group of participants known as the “normative sample” (a.k.a. “norm group”). Then, the scores of all subsequent test-takers are compared to the scores of the norm group. In order for the norm group to be a valid comparison group, it has to be representative of the population who will be taking the test.
So how do we know if the normative sample is representative? When summarizing the psychometric properties of a test, test developers and publishers usually describe the norm group with their
demographic variables
. Demographic variables are characteristics of the participants like: gender, age, ethnicity, relationship status, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation etc. A description of the normative sample allows examiners to decide if the test of interest can be used with their intended examinees. For example, if the normative sample were 95% male, then you likely could not logically compare their scores to females test takers! That is why readers need to know what the normative sample looks like.
The purpose of the current assignment is for you to provide a verbal (and graphical) description of a fictional normative sample of research participants.
In the Assignment Instructions folder, there is an SPSS data file that will be the basis for your analyses. The data provided are fictional and were created solely for the purposes of our SPSS assignments. This data file includes: 1) demographic information for a normative sample of 428 participants, and 2) participants’ scores on a test called the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D scale).
The CES-D Scale is utilized to measure symptoms of depression. It is a self-assessment that is completed by the individual. The CES-D contains 20 items rated on a 4-point scale (0 = Rarely or None of the Time to 3 = Most or All of the Time). The phrase “During the past week…” prefaces the questions in order to emphasize currentdepressive mood. Scores on the total scale are summed and can range from 0 to 60. Traditionally, individuals with scores over 16 are identified as “depressed” (Weissman, et al., 1977), though due to high false positive rates, a score of 27 is considered a more useful cut-off (Zich, et al., 1990). The full scale can be accessed at: https://nts122.chcr.brown.edu/pcoc/cesdscale.pdf. Items 4, 8, 12, and 16 are worded in reverse to avoid response set (i.e., “yay-saying” or “nay saying”). The CES-D includes four subscales—depressive affect, well-being, somatic, and interpersonal—that assess specific features of depressive symptomology. Several studies have validated the four subscales across a variety of subgroups (Hertzog et al., 1990; Knight et al., 1997).
With this first SPSS assignment, you will learn how to go from raw demographic data to describing a normative sample in an APA 6th ed formatted reportJ
representativeness
at least one scriptural citation
Be sure to carefully review the Grading Rubric posted in the Assignment Instructions folder so that you know exactly what is expected of you when completing this assignment.
This assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 2.
Hertzog, C.; Van Alstine, J.; Usala, P.D.; Hultsch, D.F.; & Dixon, R. (1990). Measurement properties of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in older populations. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2(1), 64-72. doi: 10.1037/1040-3590.2.1.64
Knight, R. G., Williams, S., McGee, R., & Olaman, S. (1997). Psychometric properties of the
Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in a sample of women in
middle life. Behavior, Research, and Therapy, 35(4), 373-380. doi: 10.1016/S0005-
7967(96)00107-6
Weissman, M. M., Sholomskas, D., Pottenger, M., et al. (1977). Assessing depressive symptoms in five psychiatric populations: a validation study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 106, 203-214.
Zich, J. M., C. C. Attkisson, & Greenfield, T.K. (1990). Screening for depression in primary care clinics: the CES-D and the BDI. International Journal of Psychiatry and Medicine, 20(3), 259-277.