ASSIGNMENT

HMEF5113
STATISTICS FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
MAY 2023 SEMESTER
___________________________________________________________________________

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION:

1. Answer in English or Malay.

2. Number of words: 3500 – 5000 words excluding references for EACH question.

3. Submit your assignment ONCE only in MULTIPLE files.

4. Submit your assignment ONLINE.

5. Submission date : 5 August 2023.

6. This assignment accounts for 100% of the total marks for the course.

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

PART 1:
ASSIGNMENT 1 (50%)

Objectives:
The objective of this assignment is to enable you to develop knowledge and skills in the
following areas of competency:
i. Understand SPSS Statistics data file structure for exploratory data analysis procedures;
and
ii. Prepare the SPSS Statistics data file for descriptive and inferential data analysis.

Instructions:
Answer all questions in this assignment. Read up on the HMEF5113 module and the
recommended statistical analysis and SPSS Statistics books.

Questions:

HMEF5113 Dataset for Assignments 1 and 2 May 2023.sav was extracted from an
experimental research study that was undertaken to determine the impact of two different
types of interventions in helping students cope with their anxiety concerning a forthcoming
statistics course. Students were divided into two equal groups and asked to complete
several scales (Time 1). These included a Fear of Statistics test, Confidence in Coping with
Statistics scale, and Depression scale. One group (Group 1) was given several sessions
designed to improve mathematical skills, and the second group (Group 2) was subjected to a
program designed to build confidence in the ability to cope with statistics. After the program
(Time 2) they were again asked to complete the same scales that they completed before the
program. They were also followed up three months later (Time 3). Their performance on a
statistics exam was also measured.

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Study this dataset carefully and answer the following questions:

a. Describe how you would go about addressing missing values in a dataset when
respondents failed to fill up their responses.
[2 marks]

b. Generate a frequency count and bar to show the distribution of gender classification.
Describe the frequency distribution output.
[6 marks]

c. Was the intervention effective in increasing students’ confidence in their ability to

cope with statistics? You will need to use the variables, confidence time1 (conf1) and
confidence time2 (conf2). Write your results in a report.
[6 marks]

d. What impact did the intervention have on students’ levels of depression?

[6 marks]

e. Use one-way repeated measures ANOVA to compare the Fear of Statistics scores for
the three-time periods (time1, time2, and time3). Inspect the means plots and
describe the impact of the intervention and the subsequent follow-up three months
later.

[12 marks]

f. Is there a significant interaction effect between the type of intervention (group) and
time?

[6 marks]

g. Is there a significant main effect for the within-subjects independent variable, time?

[6 marks]

h. Is there a significant main effect for the between-subjects independent variable, group
(maths skills/confidence building)?

[6 marks]

[Total: 50 Marks]

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You must submit this assignment in MS Word file via myINSPIRE together with your SPSS
Statistics Data file and SPSS Statistics Viewer file (SPSS output file). Save your assignment
under your name (e.g. Aina Assignment 1.docx for MS Word file, Aina Assignment 1.sav for
SPSS Data file, and Aina Assignment 1.spv for SPSS Viewer file).

ASSIGNMENT 2 (40%)

Objective:

This assignment aims to enable you to apply practical knowledge and skills in statistical
analysis using the SPSS Statistics software. This assignment will provide you with knowledge
and skills in statistics, statistical analysis, and interpretation of the research questions and
hypotheses you have formulated.

Instruction:

Answer all questions in this assignment. Read the HMEF5113 Statistics for Educational
Research Module and other recommended books on statistical analysis and SPSS Statistics.

Questions:

HMEF5113 Dataset for Assignments 1 and 2 May 2023.sav was extracted from an
experimental research study that was undertaken to determine the impact of two different
types of interventions in helping 30 students cope with their anxiety concerning a
forthcoming statistics course. Students were divided into two equal groups and asked to
complete several scales (Time 1). These included a Fear of Statistics test, Confidence in
Coping with Statistics scale, and Depression scale. One group (Group 1) was given several
sessions designed to improve mathematical skills, and the second group (Group 2) was
subjected to a program designed to build confidence in the ability to cope with statistics.
After the program (Time 2) they were again asked to complete the same scales that they
completed before the program. They were also followed up three months later (Time 3).
Their performance on a statistics exam was also measured.

4
Study the HMEF5113 Dataset for Assignments 1 and 2 May 2023.sav carefully, run your
analysis using SPSS Statistics, and answer the following questions:

a. Using the HMEF5113 Dataset for Assignments 1 and 2 May 2023.sav data file, perform
the appropriate analyses (including assumption testing) to compare the confidence
scores for the two groups (maths skills, confidence building) at time 2, while
controlling for confidence scores at time 1. The variables you will need are group,
conf1, conf2.

[12 marks]

b. Perform a two-way analysis of covariance to explore the question: Does gender

influence the effectiveness of the two intervention programs designed to increase
participants’ confidence in being able to cope with statistics training? You will need to
assess the impact of gender and type of intervention (group) on confidence at time 2,
controlling for confidence scores at time 1.

[12 marks]

c. Choose and perform the appropriate non-parametric test to address each of the
following research questions.

i. Using the HMEF5113 Dataset for Assignments 1 and 2 May 2023.sav data file,
compare the depression scores at time 1 and the depression scores at time 2. Did
the intervention result in a significant change in depression scores? The variables
you will need are depress1 and depress2.

[8 marks]

ii. Using the HMEF5113 Dataset for Assignments 1 and 2 May 2023.sav data file,
compare the depression scores for the three-time periods involved in the study
(before the intervention, after the intervention, and at the three-month follow-up).
The variables you will need are depress1, depress2 and depress3.

[8 marks]

(Total: 40 Marks)

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 [TOTAL: 90 MARKS]

PART II: ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)

Discuss the following topic(s) in the forum and submit proof of your participation in the
online discussions:

Question 1:
Describe how you would go about addressing missing values in a dataset when
respondents failed to fill up their responses.

Question 2:
Discuss the differences between parametric statistics and non-parametric statistics.

Question 3:
Under what circumstances would you want to consider using the analysis of covariance?

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INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT PROOF OF ONLINE CLASS PARTICIPATION (10%)
Do the following:
1. Select the best FIVE (5) of your postings from the forum discussion set up by your tutor.
2. Do screenshots of the postings and include them as images in your assignment.
3. The screenshots should be in the image file (either in JPG or PNG format). Refer to the
sample of Screen Grab below
4. The screenshots should contain: Name, Title of the discussion, Day, Date and Time.

Guidelines for Submission:

a. Use double space and 12-point Times New Roman font.
b. Provide reference using the American Psychological Association (APA) format 7 th
edition.
c. References should be the latest (the year 2010 onwards)
Notes:
● Assignments should be submitted according to the due date.
● You are to submit a softcopy of your assignment online through myINSPIRE.
● Plagiarism is not acceptable. If you are not sure what is meant by plagiarism, refer to
the various websites which discuss this matter, e.g. owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts.

[Total: 10 marks]