Statistics and Business Research Methods - Coursework Example

Name Lecturer Course/Class Date Statistics and Business Research Methods Introduction The research methods purposes to inform action and explain the relationship between two or more realities. In contextualizing the findings of research, research methods add to the larger body of knowledge and practical body of research. Thus, research explores, discover, explain, link, as well as construct practical truth from theories and develop them. The performance in particular subjects can also be compared and explain between 2012 and 2014 by considering the final exams and assignment 1 and 2 results. This paper aims at explaining the variations in terms of their similarities and differences. Methodology and Results The paper used a secondary data recorded on performance in three subjects, HI001, HI001, and HI003, between 2012 and 2014 of 98 students. The analysis is designed purposely to examine the exam and respective assignments results of the three subjects and analyzed by content analysis of the SPSS. The data of the final exams and the successive assignments, 01 and 02, of 98 students between year 2012 and 2014 was recorded and entered in SPSS database for analysis purposes. The following frequency table, histogram, normal Q – Q and the de-trended normal Q–Q for each one of the 11 variables was obtained. Frequency table for H1001 final exams-50 H1001FINALEXAM50 Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid .00 2 1.7 2.0 2.0 20.00 1 .9 1.0 3.1 23.00 3 2.6 3.1 6.1 24.00 5 4.3 5.1 11.2 25.00 2 1.7 2.0 13.3 26.00 3 2.6 3.1 16.3 28.00 2 1.7 2.0 18.4 29.00 11 9.6 11.2 29.6 30.00 8 7.0 8.2 37.8 31.00 8 7.0 8.2 45.9 32.00 5 4.3 5.1 51.0 33.00 6 5.2 6.1 57.1 34.00 10 8.7 10.2 67.3 35.00 3 2.6 3.1 70.4 36.00 6 5.2 6.1 76.5 37.00 8 7.0 8.2 84.7 38.00 8 7.0 8.2 92.9 40.00 3 2.6 3.1 95.9 41.00 2 1.7 2.0 98.0 43.00 1 .9 1.0 99.0 45.00 1 .9 1.0 100.0 Total 98 85.2 100.0 Missing System 17 14.8 Total 115 100.0 Histogram for the H1001final exam-50 The normal and the de-trended Q-Q plot for H001Final exams Frequency table for H1001ASSIGNMENT01-30 H1001ASIGNMENT01 Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 8.00 1 .9 1.0 1.0 10.00 1 .9 1.0 2.0 14.00 2 1.7 2.0 4.1 15.00 9 7.8 9.2 13.3 16.00 18 15.7 18.4 31.6 17.00 19 16.5 19.4 51.0 18.00 32 27.8 32.7 83.7 19.00 7 6.1 7.1 90.8 20.00 5 4.3 5.1 95.9 21.00 2 1.7 2.0 98.0 22.00 2 1.7 2.0 100.0 Total 98 85.2 100.0 Missing System 17 14.8 Total 115 100.0 Histogram for H1001 Assignment01-30 The normal and the de-trended Q-Q plot for year of enrolment and H001Assignment01 Frequency table for H001Assignment02 H1001ASSIGNMENT02 Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 8.00 1 .9 1.0 1.0 10.00 3 2.6 3.1 4.1 12.00 6 5.2 6.1 10.2 13.00 10 8.7 10.2 20.4 14.00 8 7.0 8.2 28.6 15.00 18 15.7 18.4 46.9 16.00 14 12.2 14.3 61.2 17.00 24 20.9 24.5 85.7 18.00 10 8.7 10.2 95.9 19.00 1 .9 1.0 96.9 20.00 1 .9 1.0 98.0 21.00 2 1.7 2.0 100.0 Total 98 85.2 100.0 Missing System 17 14.8 Total 115 100.0 Histogram for the H1001Assignment02 The normal and the de-trended Q-Q plot for H001Assignment02-20 Frequency table for H1002FinalExam-50 H1002FINALEXAM50 Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid .00 1 .9 1.0 1.0 12.00 1 .9 1.0 2.0 16.00 3 2.6 3.1 5.1 17.00 1 .9 1.0 6.1 18.00 3 2.6 3.1 9.2 19.00 2 1.7 2.0 11.2 20.00 3 2.6 3.1 14.3 21.00 1 .9 1.0 15.3 22.00 2 1.7 2.0 17.3 23.00 2 1.7 2.0 19.4 24.00 9 7.8 9.2 28.6 25.00 10 8.7 10.2 38.8 26.00 10 8.7 10.2 49.0 27.00 10 8.7 10.2 59.2 28.00 9 7.8 9.2 68.4 29.00 5 4.3 5.1 73.5 30.00 4 3.5 4.1 77.6 31.00 4 3.5 4.1 81.6 32.00 6 5.2 6.1 87.8 33.00 2 1.7 2.0 89.8 34.00 1 .9 1.0 90.8 35.00 3 2.6 3.1 93.9 36.00 4 3.5 4.1 98.0 39.00 1 .9 1.0 99.0 40.00 1 .9 1.0 100.0 Total 98 85.2 100.0 Missing System 17 14.8 Total 115 100.0 Histogram for H1002FinalExams-50 The normal and the de-trended Q-Q plot for H1002FinalExam-50 Frequency Table for H1002Assignment01-30 H1002ASSIGNMENT0130 Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 4.00 1 .9 1.0 1.0 8.00 2 1.7 2.0 3.1 10.00 5 4.3 5.1 8.2 12.00 1 .9 1.0 9.2 13.00 2 1.7 2.0 11.2 14.00 4 3.5 4.1 15.3 15.00 3 2.6 3.1 18.4 17.00 8 7.0 8.2 26.5 18.00 20 17.4 20.4 46.9 19.00 15 13.0 15.3 62.2 20.00 25 21.7 25.5 87.8 21.00 8 7.0 8.2 95.9 22.00 4 3.5 4.1 100.0 Total 98 85.2 100.0 Missing System 17 14.8 Total 115 100.0 Histogram for H1002Assignment01-30 The frequency table and the histogram of H1002Assignment02 The De-trended and the normal Q-Q plot of H1002Assignment 02 The frequency table for H1003FinalExams-50 H1003FINALEXAM50 Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 4.00 2 1.7 2.0 2.0 8.00 1 .9 1.0 3.1 10.00 2 1.7 2.0 5.1 11.00 1 .9 1.0 6.1 13.00 1 .9 1.0 7.1 15.00 3 2.6 3.1 10.2 16.00 3 2.6 3.1 13.3 17.00 2 1.7 2.0 15.3 18.00 2 1.7 2.0 17.3 20.00 3 2.6 3.1 20.4 21.00 1 .9 1.0 21.4 22.00 2 1.7 2.0 23.5 23.00 5 4.3 5.1 28.6 24.00 7 6.1 7.1 35.7 25.00 18 15.7 18.4 54.1 26.00 8 7.0 8.2 62.2 27.00 2 1.7 2.0 64.3 28.00 4 3.5 4.1 68.4 29.00 1 .9 1.0 69.4 30.00 4 3.5 4.1 73.5 31.00 1 .9 1.0 74.5 32.00 7 6.1 7.1 81.6 33.00 2 1.7 2.0 83.7 34.00 1 .9 1.0 84.7 35.00 2 1.7 2.0 86.7 37.00 2 1.7 2.0 88.8 38.00 1 .9 1.0 89.8 39.00 3 2.6 3.1 92.9 40.00 3 2.6 3.1 95.9 42.00 3 2.6 3.1 99.0 43.00 1 .9 1.0 100.0 Total 98 85.2 100.0 Missing System 17 14.8 Total 115 100.0 The histogram of H1003FinalExam-50 The frequency table and histogram for the H1003Assignment-01 H1003ASSIGNMENT01 Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 10.00 10 8.7 10.2 10.2 11.00 2 1.7 2.0 12.2 12.00 1 .9 1.0 13.3 14.00 3 2.6 3.1 16.3 15.00 4 3.5 4.1 20.4 16.00 1 .9 1.0 21.4 17.00 1 .9 1.0 22.4 18.00 15 13.0 15.3 37.8 19.00 22 19.1 22.4 60.2 20.00 24 20.9 24.5 84.7 21.00 3 2.6 3.1 87.8 22.00 8 7.0 8.2 95.9 23.00 1 .9 1.0 96.9 24.00 1 .9 1.0 98.0 30.00 2 1.7 2.0 100.0 Total 98 85.2 100.0 Missing System 17 14.8 Total 115 100.0 Frequency table and histogram for H1003Assignment-02 H1003ASSIGNMENT02 Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Valid 8.00 1 .9 1.0 1.0 10.00 2 1.7 2.0 3.1 11.00 1 .9 1.0 4.1 12.00 18 15.7 18.4 22.4 13.00 33 28.7 33.7 56.1 14.00 23 20.0 23.5 79.6 15.00 13 11.3 13.3 92.9 16.00 2 1.7 2.0 94.9 18.00 2 1.7 2.0 96.9 19.00 2 1.7 2.0 99.0 20.00 1 .9 1.0 100.0 Total 98 85.2 100.0 Missing System 17 14.8 Total 115 100.0 The normal and detrended normal Q-Q plot of H1003Assignment-02 Descriptive Statistics The descriptive statistics involves describing data by showing or summarizing the data into a meaningful means in order to determine a pattern in the data. The following table illustrates the descriptive statistics of the data analyzed above. The following table summarizes the descriptive statistics of the exams and assignments Descriptive Statistics N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation H1001FINALEXAM50 98 .00 45.00 31.7245 6.75458 H1001ASIGNMENT01 98 8.00 22.00 17.2143 1.99096 H1001ASSIGNMENT02 98 8.00 19.00 15.4592 2.31164 H1002FINALEXAM50 98 .00 40.00 26.5000 5.91041 H1002ASSIGNMENT0130 98 4.00 22.00 17.8163 3.44125 H1002ASSIGNMENT02 98 4.00 16.00 12.4184 1.98927 H1003FINALEXAM50 98 4.00 43.00 25.9898 8.27179 H1003ASSIGNMENT01 98 10.00 30.00 18.1939 3.90785 H1003ASSIGNMENT02 98 8.00 20.00 13.5408 1.75962 Valid N (listwise) 98 Subject HI001 Exams: Out 98 students, the mean score in HI001Final Exams out of 50 marks was 31.7245. The maximum was 45 while the minimum was 0.00. The deviation from the mean score was recorded at 6.75458. Assignment 01-30: In the assignment, marked out of 30, the minimum score was 8 and the maximum being 22. The mean score was 17.2143 and the standard deviation was 1.99096. Assignment 02-20: In the assignment, marked out of 20, the mean score was 15.4592 while the standard deviation was 2.31164. The minimum and the maximum score were 8 and 19 respectively. Subject HI002 Exams: Out 98 students, the mean score in HI002Final Exams out of 50 marks was 26.5000. The maximum was 40 while the minimum was 0.00. The deviation from the mean score was recorded at 5.91041. Assignment 01-30: In the assignment, marked out of 30, the minimum score was 4 and the maximum being 22. The mean score was 17.8163and the standard deviation was 3.44125. Assignment 02-20: In the assignment, marked out of 20, the mean score was 12.4184while the standard deviation was 1.98927. The minimum and the maximum score were 4 and 16. Subject HI003 Exams: Out 98 students, the mean score in HI003Final Exams out of 50 marks was 25.9898. The maximum was 43 while the minimum was 4.00. The deviation from the mean score was recorded at 8.27179. Assignment 01-30: In the assignment, marked out of 30, the minimum score was 10 and the maximum being 30. The mean score was 18.1939 and the standard deviation was 3.90785. Assignment 02-20: In the assignment, marked out of 20, the mean score was 13.5408 while the standard deviation was 1.75962. The minimum and the maximum score were 8 and 20. Correlations Correlation is a statistical measure that determines the level of variations between two or more variables. If two variables are positively correlated then the correlation value indicates the extent to which the two variables decrease or increase together. A negative correlation indicates an opposite movement whereby as one variable increase the other decrease. In this study, correlation coefficients are used to compare the relationships between the exams and the assignments 1 and 2. The following tables of correlations illustrate the extent of fluctuations of variables. Correlation between HI001FinalExam and HI002FinalExam Correlations H1001FINALEXAM50 H1002FINALEXAM50 Spearman's rho H1001FINALEXAM50 Correlation Coefficient 1.000 .067 Sig. (2-tailed) . .515 N 98 98 H1002FINALEXAM50 Correlation Coefficient .067 1.000 Sig. (2-tailed) .515 . N 98 98 The H1001FinalExams and H1002FinalExamsare positively correlated. According to the table above, the correlation coefficient of HI001FinalExam and HI002FinalExam 0.067. Although they are positively correlated, the correlation is slightly weak, being below 0.5. HI001Assignment-01 and HI001Assignment-02 Correlations H1001ASIGNMENT01 H1001ASSIGNMENT02 Spearman's rho H1001ASIGNMENT01 Correlation Coefficient 1.000 .559** Sig. (2-tailed) . .000 N 98 98 H1001ASSIGNMENT02 Correlation Coefficient .559** 1.000 Sig. (2-tailed) .000 . N 98 98 **. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). H1001asignment01 and H1001assignment02 are strongly positively correlated. According to the correlation table above, the correlation coefficient between H1001asignment01 and H1001assignment02 0.559 suggesting that they are strongly correlated. An increase in one suggests an increase in the other variable. HI002FINALEXAM-50 and HI003FINALEXAM-50 Correlations H1002FINALEXAM50 H1003FINALEXAM50 Spearman's rho H1002FINALEXAM50 Correlation Coefficient 1.000 .119 Sig. (2-tailed) . .243 N 98 98 H1003FINALEXAM50 Correlation Coefficient .119 1.000 Sig. (2-tailed) .243 . N 98 98 The table above illustrate the correlation coefficient of the two variables, HI002FINALEXAM-50 and HI003FINALEXAM-50. The coefficient is 0.119 suggesting that although they are positively correlated, their correlation is weaker since it is below 0.5. H1001ASSIGNMENT02 and H1002ASSIGNMENT02 Correlations H1001ASSIGNMENT02 H1002ASSIGNMENT02 Spearman's rho H1001ASSIGNMENT02 Correlation Coefficient 1.000 -.050 Sig. (2-tailed) . .626 N 98 98 H1002ASSIGNMENT02 Correlation Coefficient -.050 1.000 Sig. (2-tailed) .626 . N 98 98 The coefficient of correlation between H1001ASSIGNMENT02 and H1002ASSIGNMENT02 is -0.050, suggesting that the correlation between the two variables is negatively weak. As one variable increase, the other is expected to decrease in the same fluctuation trend. H1003ASSIGNMENT02 -30 and H1002ASSIGNMENT01-30 Correlations H1002ASSIGNMENT0130 H1003ASSIGNMENT02 Spearman's rho H1002ASSIGNMENT01-30 Correlation Coefficient 1.000 -.138 Sig. (2-tailed) . .175 N 98 98 H1003ASSIGNMENT02-30 Correlation Coefficient -.138 1.000 Sig. (2-tailed) .175 . N 98 98 The link between the two variables is -0.138 suggesting that the correlation is negatively weak thus any increase in either of the variable have an increasing trend effect on the other variable. References Bainbridge, W. S. 1992. Social research methods and statistics: a computer-assisted introduction. Belmont, Calif, Wadsworth Pub. Co. Burns, R. B., & Burns, R. A. 2008. 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