Assignment: Introduction to Quantitative Analysis: Confidence Intervals

Assignment: Introduction to Quantitative Analysis: Confidence Intervals

As its name implies, confidence intervals provide a range of values, along with a level of confidence, to serve as an estimate of some unknown population value. Since it is rare to have access to the entire population, you must frequently rely on the confidence interval of the sample to make some inference about the population of interest. Before making accurate inferences to the population, we need to fully understand how the three key components of the interval—variability in the data, sample size, and confidence level—impact the width of the interval.

For this assignment, you will explore the relationship between these components and understand the trade-off between reducing risk in our confidence of estimates and increasing precision.

To prepare for this assignment:

  • Review Magnusson’s web blog found in the following link to further your visualization and understanding of confidence intervals. http://rpsychologist.com/index.html
  • Use the attached guidelines on how complete the assignment as required.
  • Using the SPSS software, open the General Social Survey data-set found attached, and review the data for variable 20; respondents income.
  • Calculate a 95% confidence interval in SPSS for the variable; respondents income.
  • Write a 2- 3-paragraph analysis of your results and include a copy and paste of the appropriate visual displays of the data into your document.
  • Based on the results of your data in this confidence interval assignment, provide a 1 paragraph explanation of what the implications for social change might be. Provide examples based on the results of your data. Also, use at least 2 scholarly articles to support your findings. Use proper APA format.

Post via word document.