Describe the assumptions of normality and homogeneity of variance. When these assumptions are violated, what are your options?

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Complete the following:

  1. Why do we care whether the assumptions required for statistical tests are met? (You might also want to write your answer on a note card you paste to your computer.)
  2. Open the data set that you corrected previously for DownloadFestival.sav. You will use the following variables: Day1, Day2, and Day3 (hygiene variable for all three days). Create a simple histogram for each variable. Choose to display the normal curve (under Element Properties) and title your charts. Copy these plots into your document.
  3. Now create probability-probability (p-p) plots for each variable. This output will give you additional information. Read over the Case Processing Summary. Notice that there is missing data for Days 2 and Day 3? Copy only the Normal p-p Plots into your document (you do not need to copy the beginning output nor the Detrended Normal p-p Plots).
  4. Examining the histograms and p-p plots describe the dataset, with particular attention toward the assumption of normality. For each day, do you think the responses are reasonably normally distributed? (Just give your impression of the data.) Why or why not?
  5. Using the same dataset, and the Frequency command, calculate the standard descriptive measures (mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance and range) as well as kurtosis and skew for all three hygiene variables. Paste your output into your document (you do not need to paste the Frequency Table). What does the output tell you? You will need to comment on: sample size, measures of central tendency and dispersion and well as kurtosis and skewness. You will need to either calculate z scores for skewness and kurtosis or use those given in the book to provide a complete answer. Bottom line: is the assumption of normality met for these three variables? Does this match your visual observations from question #1?
  6. Using the dataset SPSSExam.sav, and the Frequency command, calculate: the standard descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance and range) plus skew and kurtosis, and histograms with the normal curve on the following variables: Computer, Exam, Lecture, and Numeracy for the entire dataset. Complete the same analysis using University as a grouping variable. Paste your output into your document (you do not need to paste the Frequency Table). What do the results tell you with regard to whether the data is normally distributed?
  7. Using the dataset SPSSExam.sav, determine whether the scores on computer literacy and percentage of lectures attended (with University as a grouping variable) meet the assumption of homogeneity of variance (use Levene’s test). You must remember to unclick the “split file” option used above before doing this test. What does the output tell you? (Be as specific as possible.)
  8. Describe the assumptions of normality and homogeneity of variance. When these assumptions are violated, what are your options? Are there cases in which the assumptions may technically be violated, yet have no impact on your intended analyses? Explain.

How will this new policy be perceived by others in the organization? How will this affect the organizational culture?

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Assessment Instructions—Must use attached template

Questions to Consider

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.
SHOW LESS

  • How does the understanding of perceiving persons and attribution bias help you in your personal or professional life?
  • What theories could be applied to reduce prejudice, discrimination, or sexism in your professional setting?
  • What factors influence the link between attitudes and behavior?
  • Resources  APA Resources
    Because this is a psychology course, you need to format this assessment according to APA guidelines. Additional resources about APA can be found in the Research Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom. Use the resources to guide your work as needed.

    • American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
    • Required Resource
      Use this template to complete your assessment.
  • Assessment Instructions Preparation
    Use the Capella Library and the Internet to research current LGBT workplace legislation; hiring, firing, and retention, promotional opportunity, health insurance, or parenting leave. Some suggested keywords for searches include a combination of LGBT and: protection in the workplace; inclusion; self-concept; self-esteem; self-efficacy; normalization; discrimination; social support; perceived stress in sexual minorities;et cetera.
    The deliverable for this assessment is a research-based policy statement. Sample policy statements and templates are available on many Internet Web sites, if you wish use them as guides. Use the Policy Statement Template, linked in Resources, to complete this assessment.
    The purpose of a policy statement is to state acceptable methods or behaviors in an organization. Essentially, a policy states the organizational values and how those values relate to the organization’s purpose.
    Instructions
    Assume the role in the scenario described below.
    Scenario
    You are a consulting organizational psychologist. You have been retained to develop a new policy for the LGBT population in your professional setting (or for a setting from your experience.)
    Deliverable
    Propose a research-based policy for one specific issue regarding the LGBT population for a setting.

    • For example, propose a new policy for hiring, firing, and retention, promotional opportunity, health insurance, or parenting leave.
      • Identify the professional setting related to your experience.
      • The Policy Statement should be two pages, maximum.
        • Brevity does not mean this assessment lacks academic rigor. Disciplined, succinct writing requires thorough knowledge of the subject and excellent writing skills.
    • Address each of the following elements in your policy statement, using the template provided in the Resources:
    • Analyze research related to concepts of self-esteem, self-concept, self-presentation, and self-efficacy for the LGBT population.
    • Integrate social psychology principles and research to propose an LGBT policy for a workplace.
    • Analyze how the proposed policy and current workplace legislation reflect social psychology principles.
      • How does the research-based proposed policy meet the requirements of current laws?
      • How do laws reflect principles of social psychology?
    • Evaluate the implications of a new policy for the organization and individuals.
      • How will this new policy be perceived by others in the organization?
      • How will this affect the organizational culture?
      • What suggestions do you have for addressing resistance or changing the culture?
    • Support positions with references from scholarly and professional literature.
    • Additional Requirements
    • Written communication: Write clearly and logically, with correct use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and APA format and style.
    • Length: Maximum length is 2 pages. Use the Policy Statement Template to complete this assessment.
    • References: Include a minimum of five peer-reviewed references (in APA format). Resources and in-text citations should be formatted according to current APA style and formatting.

Preparation

Use the Capella Library and the Internet to research current LGBT workplace legislation; hiring, firing, and retention, promotional opportunity, health insurance, or parenting leave. Some suggested keywords for searches include a combination of LGBT and: protection in the workplace; inclusion; self-concept; self-esteem; self-efficacy; normalization; discrimination; social support; perceived stress in sexual minorities;et cetera.

The deliverable for this assessment is a research-based policy statement. Sample policy statements and templates are available on many Internet Web sites, if you wish use them as guides. Use the Policy Statement Template, linked in Resources, to complete this assessment.

The purpose of a policy statement is to state acceptable methods or behaviors in an organization. Essentially, a policy states the organizational values and how those values relate to the organization’s purpose.

Instructions

Assume the role in the scenario described below.

Scenario

You are a consulting organizational psychologist. You have been retained to develop a new policy for the LGBT population in your professional setting (or for a setting from your experience.)

Deliverable

Propose a research-based policy for one specific issue regarding the LGBT population for a setting.

  • For example, propose a new policy for hiring, firing, and retention, promotional opportunity, health insurance, or parenting leave.
    • Identify the professional setting related to your experience.
    • How will this new policy be perceived by others in the organization?
    • How will this affect the organizational culture?
    • The Policy Statement should be two pages, maximum.
      • Brevity does not mean this assessment lacks academic rigor. Disciplined, succinct writing requires thorough knowledge of the subject and excellent writing skills.

Address each of the following elements in your policy statement, using the template provided in the Resources:

  • Analyze research related to concepts of self-esteem, self-concept, self-presentation, and self-efficacy for the LGBT population.
  • Integrate social psychology principles and research to propose an LGBT policy for a workplace.
  • Analyze how the proposed policy and current workplace legislation reflect social psychology principles.
    • How does the research-based proposed policy meet the requirements of current laws?
    • How do laws reflect principles of social psychology?
  • Evaluate the implications of a new policy for the organization and individuals.
    • How will this new policy be perceived by others in the organization?
    • How will this affect the organizational culture?
    • What suggestions do you have for addressing resistance or changing the culture?
  • Support positions with references from scholarly and professional literature.
Additional Requirements
  • Written communication: Write clearly and logically, with correct use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and APA format and style.
  • Length: Maximum length is 2 pages. Use the Policy Statement Template to complete this assessment.
  • References: Include a minimum of five peer-reviewed references (in APA format). Resources and in-text citations should be formatted according to current APA style and formatting.

Is the authors’ young and middle adulthood classification a useful one? What is especially useful and not useful about the classification?

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When did you become an adult? Was it the day you graduated from high school? Or, was it the day you moved out of your parents’ or caregivers’ home? Your description of what it means to be an adult and how and when an adolescent transitions into adulthood may differ from that of your colleagues.

The authors of your course text, Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, use the term young and middle adulthood to identify the life-span time period between age 18 and 65. This classification distinguishes this time in the life of an individual from childhood and adolescence and from the later years of adulthood.

Is the authors’ young and middle adulthood classification a useful one? What is especially useful and not useful about the classification? What changes would you make to the authors’ classification to make it more applicable to your role as a social worker?

For this Discussion, you analyze the author’s life-span classification and suggest ways to improve it.

By Day 3

Post:

  • 1.A new classification (or possibly multiple classifications) to replace the authors’ young and middle adulthood classification
  • 2. A definition of your new classification(s)
  • 3. Support for your new classification(s). for example, this support may include references to theory and empirical research findings and should reflect the current understanding of biological, psychological, and social development
  • 4. An implication your new classification might have regarding social work practice

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA:  Cengage Learning.
Chapter 10, “Biological Aspects of Young and Middle Adulthood” (pp. 469-497)

Optional Resources

Use the link below to access the MSW home page, which provides resources for your social work program.
MSW home page

Magnusson, C., & Trost, K. (2006). Girls experiencing sexual intercourse early: Could it play a part in reproductive health in middle adulthood? Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 27(4), 237–244.

Temcheff, C. E., Serbin, L. A., Martin-Storey, A., Stack, D. M., Ledingham, J., & Schwartzman, A. E. (2011). Predicting adult physical health outcomes from childhood aggression, social withdrawal and likeability: A 30-Year prospective, longitudinal study. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 18(1), 5–12.

Wilson, H. W., & Widom, C. S. (2011). Pathways from childhood abuse and neglect to HIV-risk sexual behavior in middle adulthood. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 79(2), 236–246.

Develop five open-ended questions you might ask the Walden Sports employees in a focus group to investigate why morale is low.

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Assignment: Focus Groups

Now that you have heard the Walden Sports CEO’s perspective on employee attitudes, the next step might be to organize a focus group to hear directly from the employees. Focus groups are gatherings of people who are asked carefully planned questions about their perceptions, emotions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes. A best practice is to use open-ended questions that are intended to generate multiple responses. Focus groups (and interviews) are designed to assess what people think or feel about what is going on in the organization. They can include questions that assess how satisfied they are with their jobs and what factors or antecedents exist that influence their job satisfaction. Answers to these questions can be used to select additional survey questions for an organization-wide survey. See what clues you can uncover at Walden Sports.

To prepare for this Assignment:

  • Consider questions you might ask the Walden Sports employees in a focus group to investigate why morale is low.
By Day 7

Submit a 2 page paper (not including references) that addresses the following:

  • Develop five open-ended questions you might ask the Walden Sports employees in a focus group to investigate why morale is low.
  • Explain why you developed these questions and how the answers will help provide the client the information they need to develop a plan for change. Be specific.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.