1. Think about (and/or explore) the four data sets that accompany the Pollock SPSS workbook that will be using for the course in terms of the units of analysis of each data set and the types of variables they contain. The idea here is that you will pick something in which you are interested as a topic for your research project.
2. Identify the data source that you intend to use and identify the units of analysis in the data set.
3. Identify the variable-give the variable name and its label-in which you are interested. The variable you pick should be something that you will ultimately seek to explain in your research project. For example, it might be voter turnout.
4. What is the concept that you believe is being measured by the variable you have chosen in part 3? Explain.
5. What is the level of measurement of the variable? Explain very briefly.
6. Create, using SPSS, a frequency distribution and an appropriate graphical display for your variable given its level of measurement. Given the level of measurement of the variable, find, using SPSS, any potentially appropriate measures of central tendency.
7. Describe your variable in words based on what you have found in part 6.
8. Pose one of each type of research question related to the variable you have chosen: normative, descriptive, relationship.