Mastery Exercise 1

Data Transformation

Prepared by Prof. Dr. Jegak Uli

Unit Outcomes
1. Able to compute composite score and mean of composite
score using IBM SPSS for window
2. Able to transform the mean composite score to categorical
data using IBM SPSS for window
 Mastery Exercise 1

Data Transformation
File to be used for this assignment is Data Transformation Mastery
Exercise 1.

1. Compute the composite score of a1 to a19 [19 items for measuring level of
employees satisfaction with their performance management system
(PMS)]. Name the composite score as a1a19.

2. Compute the mean of the composite score for a1a19. Name the mean of
the composite score as ma1a19 and gives it a label: Satisfaction with
PMS (Y)

3. Categorize the mean of the composite score (ma1a19) into two categories
using mean obtained in question no.1, Part II below as your cut-off point.
Name the categorized variable cma1n19. Assign a value of 1 for score
mean (6.00) and label it Dissatisfied with PMS, and value of 2 for score >
mean (6.00) 2 label it Satisfied with PMS.

4. Categorize the mean of the composite score (ma1a19) into three

categories with equal class interval width. Name the categorized variable
kma1a19. Assign a value of 1 for the first category and label it
Dissatisfied with PMS, 2 for the second category and label it Satisfied
with PMS, and 3 for the third category and label it Very Satisfied with
PMS). Please take note that the each item was measured using a 10-
point Likert scale (1 = very dissatisfied to 10 = very satisfied).
Computing a Composite Score

A composite score means a total score for all items or variables in a multiple-items
scale. So computing a composite score simply means adding together the scores for
all items or variables in a scale based on a custom formula or predesigned functions
(a predesigned formula) that will automatically perform a specific computation.

This mastery exercise is to compute a composite score to be named a1a19. It

comprises of 19-items or variable a1 to a19 for measuring level of employees
satisfaction with their performance management system (PMS). For this mastery
exercise, open the Data Transformation Mastery Exercise 1 file.

Formulas for Computing a Composite Score

1. Custom formula:
a1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a7+a8+a9+a10+a11+a12+a13+a14+a15+a16+a17+a18+a19
2. SUM function the default formula:
SUM (a1,a2,a3,a4,a5,a6,a7,a8,a9,a10,a11,a12,a13,a14,a15,a16,a17,a17,a18,a19)
3. SUM function the shortcut formula:
SUM (a1 to a19)

Custom Formula
1. Select File from the main menu, and open
2. Look in SPSS Data Files folder and select Data Transformation Mastery
Exercise 1.sav to open the data file.

3. From the SPSS main menus, choose: Transform, then select Compute Variable.

4. This opens the Compute Variable dialog box.

5. Type a1a19 in the Target Variable text box.
6. Select the first variable a1 and then click to add it to the formula.
7. Immediately after the first variable a1 is added click .

8. Continue adding variables and using the + button to add them together. The
completed custom formula should look like this:

a1+a2+a3+a4+a5+a6+a7+a8+a9+a10+a11+a12+a13+a14+a15+a16+a17+a18+a19

9. Click OK to run the computation using the custom formula.

10. The new variable named a1a19 is added immediately to the right of the variable
d8.

SUM Function the default Formula

1. Go to the SPSS main menus and choose Transform.

2. Select and open Compute Variable. This opens the Compute Variable dialog
box.

3. Type a1a19 in the Target Variable text box.

4. In the Function group box list, select All, then find and select the SUM function
in the Functions and Special Variables box and immediately click to place
the Sum function in the Numeric Expression box and it look like this:

SUM(?,?)

5. Select the first variable a1 and then click to add it to the formula.
6. Highlight the second question mark in the Sum function.

7. Select the second variable a2 and then to add it to the formula.

8. Type a coma (,) immediately after a2

9. Continue adding variables until all the 19 variables (a1 to a19) are added to the
formula by highlighting them and clicking with commas that separate the
variables. Do not put a coma after the last variable a19.

10. Click OK to run the computation by SUM function the default formula.

11. The new variable named a1a19 is added immediately to the right of the variable
d8.
SUM Function The Shortcut Formula

1. Go to the SPSS main menus and choose Transform. Next, select and open
Compute Variable. This opens the Compute Variable dialog box.

2. Type a1a19 in the Target Variable text box.

3. In the Function group box list, select All, then find and select the SUM function
in the Functions and Special Variables box and immediately click to place
the Sum function in the Numeric Expression box and it look like this:

SUM(?,?)

4. Select the first variable a1 and then click to add it to the formula.

5. Press the space bar on your keyboard once to create a space after n1 and then type
to.

6. Press the space bar on your keyboard once more to create another space.
7. Select the last variable a19 and insert it in the formula by clicking .

8. Highlight the coma and question mark (,?) and then click to remove
them from the formula. The completed custom formula should look like this:
SUM(a1 to a19)
9. Click OK to execute the computation by SUM function using the shortcut
formula.

10. The new variable named a1a19 is created and added immediately to the right of
the variable d8.
Computing the Mean of a Composite Score

The Mean of a composite score is obtained by dividing the composite score by the
number variables in a multiple-items scale that is analyzed. In the case of a1a19,
which has sixteen variables (a1 through a19) then we need to divide it by 19.

To compute mean of the composite score for a1a19, follow these steps.

1. Select Transform from the main menu and open Compute Variable. This opens
the Compute Variable dialog box.

2. Type ma1a19 in the Target Variable text box.

3. In the variable list box find and select the composite score a1a19.
4. Click to add it to the formula.

5. Place your cursor on the division symbol and then click to add it to the
formula in the Numeric Expression text box.
6. Select and click number followed by number to add 19 to the formula. The
formula looks like this.

a1a19/19

7. Click OK to run the mean computation.

8. The new variable named ma1a19 is added immediately to the right of the variable
a1a19.
 Other Built-in Functions in SPSS
The function list contains over seventy built-in functions, including:

1. Arithmetic functions
2. Statistical functions
3. Logical functions and others

1. Arithmetic Functions
ABS(numexpr): Absolute value. If the value of variable scle is 4.7,
ABS(scale) results in a value of 4.7, and ABS(scale 5) result in a value of
9.7.

RND(numexpr): Round to the nearest integer. If the value of scale is 4.7,

RN-6D(scale) result in a value of 5, and RND(scale + 5) results in a value of
10.

TRUNC(numexpr): Truncate to a integer. If the value of scale is 4.7,

TRUNC(scale) results in a value of 4, and TRUNC(scale + 5) result in a value
of 9.

MOD(numexpr,modulus): Remainder of the first argument (numexpr)

divided by the second argument (modulus). If the value of YEAR is 1983,
MOD9year,100) results in a value of 83. The two arguments must be
seperated by a comma.

SQRT(numexpr): Square root. If scale is 4.7, SQRT(scale) results in a value

of 2.17, and SQRT(scale 0.7) results in a value of 2.

EXP(numexpr): Exponential. e is raised to the power of the argument

(numexpr). If the value of scale is 2, EXP9scale) results in a value of 7.39.

LG10(numexpr): Base 10 logarithm. If the value of scale is 4.7,

LG10(sacale) results in a value of 0.67.

LN(numexpr): Natural or Naperian logarithm (base e). If the value of scale

is 10, LN9scale) results in a value of 2.3.

ARSN(numexpr): Arcsine. The result is expressed in radians.

ARTAN(numexpr). Arctangent. The result is given in radians.

SIN(radians): Sine. The argument must be specified in radians.

COS(radians): Cosine. The argument must be specified in radiations.

2. Statistical Functions
SUM(numexpr, numexpr,..): Sum of the values across the argument list.
For example, SUM(var1, var2, var3) compute the sum of the three variables.

Mean(numexpr, numexpr,..): Mean of the values across the argument list.

For example Mean(var1, var2, 5) computes the mean of the two variables
and the constant 5.

SD(numexpr, numexpr,..): Standard deviation of the values across the

argument list. For examples, SD(var1, var2, var3**2) computes a standard
deviation based on the values of var1 and var2 and the squared value of
var3.

VARIANCE(numexpr, numexpr,..): Variance of the values across the

argument lsit.

CFVAR(numexpr, numexpr,..): Coefficient of variance of the values across

the argument list.

MIN(value, value,.): Minimum value across the argument list.

MAX(value, value,.): Maximum values across the argument list.

3. Logical Functions
RANGE(test,lo,hi): True if the value of the first argument is winthin the
inclusive range(s) defined by the remaining arguments. The first argument
(test) is usually a variable name. The other arguments are paired of values
defining ranges. Tou can have more than one pair of low and high values.
For example, RANGE(year, 1900, 1949, 1960, 1999) is true if the value of
year is between 1900 and 1949 or between 1960 and 1999, and it is flase for
values 1950 through 1959.

ANY(test,value,value): True if the value of the first argument matches the

value of any of the remaining ragumrnts in the laist. The first argument
(test) is usually a variable name, is in ANY9year, 1951, 1958, 1986, 1987).
Categorize a Variable

Categorizing Composite Score into Two Categories Using Mean Value of

6.0 as the cutoff point.

1. Choose Transform from the main menus.

2. Select Recode and go to Into Different Variable and click to open the Recode
into Different Variables dialog box.

3. Find and select ma1a19 inside the variable list, the composite score to be
categorized.
4. Click to place it inside the Input Variable Output Variable fill in box.
5. Type cma1a19 in the Name box under Output Variable area. This is the assigned
name for the new categorical variable.
6. Click to apply the new name.

7. Click Old and New Values button to open the Recode into Different Variables:
Old and New Values dialog box.
8. Select Range: Lowest through for the Old Value and type 6 in the text box (As
you may remember it is the mean of the composite score for ma1a19).

9. Assign a value of 1 inside the New Value text box (Category 1: 6).
10. Click Add to place the first category in the Old New box.
11. Select Range: through highest for the Old Value and type 6.1 in the text box.
12. Assign a value of 2 inside the New Value text box (Category 2: > 6.01).
13. Click Add to place the second category in the Old New box.

14. Click Continue to accept the two categories we have defined.

15. Click OK to execute the transformation of mean composite score (ma1a19) to the
categorical variable named (cma1a19).

16. The categorical variable created: cma1a19 appears immediately to the right of the
variable ma1a19.

17. Click the Variable View on the view toolbar to open the Variable View window.

18. Scroll down the Variable View Window and find cma1a19.
19. Click the right hand side of the Decimals column cell for the variable cma1a19
once so that this button appears.
20. Click the down arrow button twice. Be sure that the decimal place is 0.

21. Go down the Values column and find the values column cell for cma1a19.
22. Click the right hand side of Values column cell for the cma1a19 variable so that
this button appears and click it once to open the Value Label dialog box.

23. Assign the value of 1 for the first category.

24. Label the category 1: Dissatisfied and click Add to define the first category.
25. Assign the value of 2 for the second category.
26. Label the category 2: Satisfied and click Add to define the second category.

27. Click OK to accept the Value labels defined.

28. The values and labels assigned to the two categories variable appear on the Values
column cell for cma1a19in the data view window.
Categorizing Composite Score into Three Categories with Equal Class
Width Interval

1. Choose Transform from the main menus.

2. Select Recode and go to Into Different Variable and click to open the Recode
into Different Variables dialog box.

3. Find and select ma1a19 inside the variable list, the mean composite score to be
categorized.
4. Click to place it inside the Input Variable Output Variable fill in box.
5. Type Kma1a19 in the Name box under Output Variable area. This is the
assigned name for the new categorical variable.
6. Click to apply the new name.

7. Click Old and New Values button to open the Recode into Different Variables:
Old and New Values dialog box.
8. Select Range: Lowest through for the Old Value and type 4 in the text box
(Category 1: 1 through 4).
9. Assign a value of 1 inside the New Value text box (Category 1: 1 through 4).
10. Click Add to place the first category in the Old New box.

11. Select Range: for the Old Value and type 4.01 through 6.99 in the text box
(Category 2: 4.01 through 6.99).
12. Assign a value of 2 inside the New Value text box
13. Click Add to place the second category in the Old New box (Category 2: 4.01
through 6.99).
14. Select Range: through highest for the Old Value and type 7.0 in the text box
(Category 3: 7.00 through 10.00).
15. Assign a value of 3 inside the New Value text box
16. Click Add to place the third category in the Old New box (Category 3: 7.00
through 10.00).

17. Click Continue to accept the three categories we have defined.

18. Click OK to execute the transformation of mean composite score (ma1a19) to the
categorical variable named (kma1a19).

19. The categorical variable created: Kma1a19 appears immediately to the right of
the variable cma1a19.

20. Open the Variable View window.

21. Scroll down the Variable View Window and find kma1a19.
22. Click the right hand side of the Decimals column cell for the variable kma1a19
once so that this button appears.
23. Click the down arrow button twice. Be sure that the decimal place is 0.

24. Go down the Values column and find the Values column cell for kma1a19.
25. Click the right hand side of Values column cell for the kma1a19 variable so that
this button appears and click it once to open the Value Label dialog box.

26. Assign the value of 1 for the first category.

27. Label the category 1: Very Dissatisfied and click Add to define the first category.
28. Assign the value of 2 for the second category.
29. Label the category 2: Satisfied and click Add to define the second category.
30. Assign the value of 3 for the third category.
31. Label the category 3: Very Satisfied and click Add to define the third category.

32. Click OK to accept the Value labels defined.

33. The values and labels assigned to the three categories appear on the Values
column cell for the kma1a19 variable in the data view window.