SPSS Project

TASK You are required to design an applied research project that can be completed using secondary data, use one or more of the techniques introduced in this course to complete the data analysis for the project, interpret the results and draw conclusions. The maximum length of the project report is 13 pages, 12 point Times or Arial, single spaced, with 2.5cm margins all round. The page limit includes tables, charts and appendixes, but excludes the cover page. You will be marked down if the assignment exceeds 13 pages. OBJECTIVE The goals of the project are a) to learn about the conduct of applied research b) to develop your ability to use some of the techniques introduced in this course c) Prepare you for your dissertation that you must do as part of the BIEMF degree SELECTING A DATA SET We have prepared three data sets from which you can choose for your assignment. You will need to select a suitable subset of data from one or more of these data sets to complete your assignment. One data set is drawn from Round 4 of the European Social Survey (ESS), conducted in 2008 [login to view URL] The data set is posted as a zipped file on the e-learning. However, you can also choose any of the other ESS rounds, in case it fits your research question(s) better. In this case you need to download the ESS yourself. This is straightforward –  all you need to do is to register on the European Social Survey Website (see link above), after which you will be able to download any of the rounds – and you can download it in SPSS format. In any case, you do need to consult the documentation (e.g. questionnaire) directly from the website (it is not provided on the e-learning). The second data set is taken from the Penn World Tables. These data provide time series of purchasing power parity and national income accounts for 189 countries and territories over some or all the years 1950-2009 ([login to view URL]). The use of common international prices allows comparisons across countries and over time. The third data set is the World Bank Financial Development and Structure Database. These data ([login to view URL]) include a range of indicators of financial development and structure across countries and over time that measure the size, activity, and efficiency of financial intermediaries and markets for 209 countries over a 50 year period (1960-2009). REPORT STRUCTURE The report should be formed as a research paper. We have suggested a template below, which you may want to follow. We have also included a guide to the relative length of each section. This is approximate. Different reports will have a slightly different emphasis on different sections. Remember that the maximum length is 13 pages (see above for details), so you will have to select the most important information to include in your report. Section Task Guide to length (approximate) Summary A single paragraph should briefly describe the purpose of your analysis, and the conclusions you reached. This section is often easier to write last. Please note this is not an introduction to your report but a snapshot summary. One short paragraph Introduction Begin your report by describing the research problem or question and why it is important or interesting. The introduction is critically important for any kind of report you write. It needs to be focussed and define what is being done in the report/research paper. You need to explain why your research is interesting and ideally refer briefly to existing literature, thereby informing the reader how your report fits the established literature. Ca 1 page