Introduction of research topic: As in all the other assignments this semester, start with an introductory paragraph describing your specific research question, data set, and variables, including a description of any recoding you have done.
II. Hypotheses: State the specific bivariate and multivariate empirical hypotheses you will be testing. Take care to use the appropriate form for the levels of measurement of your variables, and to state both the causal order and direction of effect of the independent variable.
III. Bivariate and multivariate analysis: In this section you will be assessing if your independent and dependent variables are associated, and how the introduction of a control variable affects the relationship between your independent and dependent variables.
For nominal and ordinal dependent variables
In SPSS, generate bivariate tables (crosstabs) for your independent and dependent variables, with the independent variable in the columns, the dependent variable in the rows, and your control variable in the layer box. Request the column percentages, Cramer’s V, either lambda or gamma (depending on the LoMs of your variables), and the chi- square test statistic. Number the output tables and refer to them by number when addressing the following:
o Briefly state your bivariate findings. Describe the relationship observed between your independent and dependent variables, as specified in the class handout. Is there a statistically significant relationship? If so, how strong is it?
o Is your original research hypothesis supported, i.e. does the predicted relationship between the variables exist? o What happens when you introduce the control variable? Is there a statistically significant relationship between
the independent and dependent variables in each of the partial tables?
o Briefly describe the findings in the partial tables in which there is a significant relationship, including level of
significance, strength of the relationship, and the observed pattern.
o How does the introduction of the control variable affect the original relationship observed in the bivariate table?
Does replication, specification, explanation or interpretation occur? What does this imply about the original observed relationship?
For an interval-ratio dependent variable
In SPSS, request a multiple regression of your dependent variable on your independent variable alone, then run a regression that includes both your independent and control variables as “Independents.”
o Briefly state your bivariate findings. Describe the relationship observed between your independent and dependent variables, as specified in the class handout. Is there a statistically significant relationship? If so, how much of the variation in the dependent variable is explained by the independent variable?
o Is your original research hypothesis supported, i.e. does the predicted relationship between the variables exist? o What happens to the coefficient estimate for your dependent variable and the model goodness of fit when you
introduce the control variable(s)? Is there a statistically significant relationship between the independent and
dependent variables? Are the control variables significantly related to the dependent variable?
o How does the introduction of the control variables affect the original relationship observed in the bivariate
model? What does this imply about the original observed relationship?
** Copy and paste your SPSS output in the body of the paper or attach it as an appendix. Number your graphs and tables and refer to them by number in your discussion (e.g. “As table 1 indicates . . .”).
III. Discussion of Results and Their Implications: Summarize your findings succinctly and suggest explanations for your findings. What implications do your results have for your research topic, future directions in research, and/or policy?