Assignment 1: Integrating research methods with statistical methods

Assignment 1: Integrating research methods with statistical methods

A. Using the Stroop Effect to Introduce Research and Statistical Methods.

1. This example is for of a hypothetical pilot investigation of the Stroop effect for words and
colors under 3 levels of incentive. The participants are asked to try to significantly reduce the
Stroop effect by working as quickly and accurately as possible under 3 conditions of: no
incentive ($0.00, do the best you can to ‘beat the clock’); moderate incentive ($3.00 for ‘beating
the clock’), or strong incentive ($300.00 for ‘beating the clock’). Due to money and computer lab
space constraints, there were just 12 participants in this pilot study.

2. The outcome measurement of interest was the mean difference scores between participants’
congruent trials (word is “blue” and print color is blue) and non-congruent trials (word is “blue”
and print color is yellow). The reaction time mean differences (mean incongruent scores minus
mean congruent scores) were recorded in milliseconds for each series of 20 Stroop trials per the
3 conditions. In each block of 20 trials, there were always 10 congruent and 10 incongruent
color-word trials, placed in random order.

Here is the algorithm for a 1-way repeated samples (e.g., within-subjects) ANOVA.

1. Open SPSS and Click On “Type in Data”

Your 3 data columns are represented by:

Var001 = column 1 are scores for $0.00 incentive level.

Var002 = column 2 are scores obtained under the $3.00 incentive level

Var003 = column 3 are scores obtained under the $300.00 incentive level

2. Click on “Data View” at bottom of page

3. Enter the data for the 3 columns as shown below. Use your own data, not these random
numbers! (Note: The rows are actually each of the 12 participants):

(0.00) (3.00) (300.00)

Var0001 var0002 var0003

40 41 14
42 43 11
37 37 16
32 38 21
34 41 29
39 45 32
38 30 17
Assignment 1: Integrating research methods with statistical methods

44 39 25
53 50 28
28 31 33
46 34 21
35 33 22

In this example, you have entered 3 columns and 12 rows.

4. Click on “Variable View” at the bottom of page.

5. Change the names from var0001, var002 & var003 … by typing these Names
0.00 replaces var001
3.00 replaces var002
300.00 replaces var003

. Return to Data Table and see that these are now the correct column labels

6. Click on “Analyze” at top of page, Scroll to “General Linear Model”,

7. Click “Repeated Measures”. A new window will open “Repeated measures Define Factors”.

8. In “Number of levels” box, type “3”

9. Click “Add”. The box will show “factor1(3)”.

10. Click “Define” A new window appears “Repeated Measures”

11. Using the arrow key, highlight and move all of the factors into the “Within Subjects”
variables box.

12. Click “Options”.A new window will open

13. Using the Arrow key move “OVERALL”, and “factor1” into the “Display Means for” Box.

14. Check “Compare Main Effects”.

15. Check “Descriptive Statistics”

16. Check “Estimates of effects size”

17. Click “Continue”. This will return you to the previous “Repeated measures” window.

18. Click “OK”.

19. HOORAY – “General Linear Model” data sheet will appear. SAVE & PRINT.
Assignment 1: Integrating research methods with statistical methods

Data Analysis:

20. Box 2 “Descriptive Statistics” has info on M & SD you will include in results section.

21. Scroll down to near the end of the print

22. See ‘Within Subjects Contrasts” box - You are interested in the f scores and sig values for the
1st row, “Linear” . Partial eta square is the amount of variance accounted for by the
manipulations, rather than error variance from the individual differences of the participants and
unaccounted factors.

23. YOUR FINAL STEP IS TO CUT AND PASTE THE DATA OUTPUT TO A WORD DOC
FOR YOUR FUTURE REFERENCE.