Homework: Read a Delimited, ASCII Data File

Value: 15 pts;
Date Due: the beginning of the next class.

Download: skills99.dat               Download tips

The task for this homework is to create an SPSS system file from a delimited, ASCII data file.  The data for this homework assignment is the data file that was created when you filled out the Survey of Skills and Knowledge  form on the first day of class. The data are stored in the file: skills99.dat.  You will need to refer back to the survey itself for information about the questions and the possible responses (see: skills_survey). Turn in the requested information on a floppy disk.  Make sure your name is on the disk. 

Comments about the Skills Survey Data

1. Note that the delimited format of the data in the skills99.dat datafile is similar to the data in Table 4 in the Delimited ASCII Data Files lecture notes. (You can look at the data using a word processor, but if you do look at it make sure that the file is not changed. I recommend exiting the word processor without saving the file.  If you resave the skills99.dat data file make sure it is saved in "text" format.) 
2. The variables in the skills99.dat file are stored in the same order as they appear in the Survey of Skills and Knowledge.
3. The Lastname and Firstname data has been stripped from the ASCII datafile and replaced by a single ID variable. The cases in the datafile are numbered from 01 to 18.
4. The values and value labels for "What is your major" are as follows:
   1 = Psychology
   2 = Sociology
   3 = Anthropology
   4 = Exercise Science
   5 = Guidance and Counseling
   6 = Communications
   7 = Business
   8 = Biology
   99 = Other
5. The date variable is coded as three separate values, month, day, and year. This poses a small problem because there is no date function within the Read Text Data Wizard that will allow you to create a date type variable from three separate variables.  So, just read those variables in as three separate variables (month, day, and year).  Later in the course we will look at ways to handle a date that was entered in this manner.
6. The values and value labels for "Are you taking the course for:" are as follows:
   1 = undergraduate credit
   2 = graduate credit
   3 = no credit
7. The values and value labels for "Do you have a computer at home?" and " Do you have a modem?" are as follows: 
   0 = No
   1 = Yes
8. The values and value labels for the knowledge and skills questions are identified in the survey itself.

Tasks

1. Create the systems file.

3 pts -  the variable labels and value labels in skills99.sav are correct. (1 point off for each missing or incorrect label)
1 pt -  the skills99.tpf file is on the disk. 

2. Check the data.

Check the data by running frequencies on all the variables.  Look for any "out of range values" for each variable. Save the output file that contains the frequencies in a file called skills99freq.spo.  If you find any out of range values then you have probably made an error in reading in the data. It would be good to go back and recheck your work.

2 pts - the file skills99freq.spo contains frequencies output for all the variables in the survey
3 pts - the values in skills99.sav are correct. 

3.  Characteristics of the survey respondents.

Use a word processor to write a paragraph that describes the characteristics of the people who completed the survey.  Include the following information in your description: the number of respondents, major, course credit, computer at home, modem at home,  favorite word processor, and knowledge of SPSS how to run SPSS for Windows. Save your paragraph in a file on your disk called, skills99demogr.doc.  Important: if you are not using MS Word as your word processor, then save the file in "rich text format" (or "text" format) so that we can read your file using MS Word.

6 pts - The file skills99demogr.doc (or skills99demogr.txt) contains the paragraph as described above.  The respondents are correctly described.