Learning objectives/outcomes for this assignment are:

1. To transfer data from Excel to SPSS and prepare file definitions.
2. To create an SPSS (.sav) file with labels (variable, value, missing) for participant's public health research/practice needs
3. To create new variables on SPSS Transform dialogue boxes using

a.    Compute and         b.     Recode

1. To use syntax in SPSS to compute and or recode variables
2. To calculate time differences between two dates and compute age
3. To generate frequencies of existing and new variables as examining variable distributions

Review the class materials and provide answers to all the tasks below.

All existing variables (and new variables which you are going to create in sections II-IV), should have a name with 8 characters (numbers allowed in suffix), appropriate variable labels, and value labels. Except for date variables, all variables should have a numeric variable type.  Missing data and labels, where applicable, should also be documented. See attached Excel file and save it to your hard drive before start of the assignment.

P.S. Your deliverables should have 2 files: one as an SPSS (. sav ) file and the other as a MS-Word File (describing each task) in your individual lab assignment 3 drop box.

Section I . Transport the Excel data file to your working directory and do the following: (20 points)

a. Export the Excel file to SPSS

b. Label all the variables with names and values for categorical variables as described in the variable definition worksheet of the Excel file

c. Identify missing subjects by

1. detecting systems missing codes (represented by a dot( . ) and reporting their frequency for each of the variable with missing data

2. assigning a value other than an existing valid value (e.g. you may code as 999 if this value is not assigned) and labeling it

d. Describe strategies on how you plan to address issues of missing data for the variables in the data set during your analysis

e. Post the final data set as a (. sav ) file with all the imported and new variables created as part of sections II-IV, and with your name and assignment number as part of this assignment.

Section II. In your assignment file, show all the steps in sequence either by a) using syntax (pasting from dialog box is allowed) or b) taking screenshots using the dialog box or c)  writing down the sequence you used from the dialog box) to do the following tasks  (20 points):

a. Recode and label (variable and value) mother’s age to a new categorical (numerical) variable with age groups of  <18, 18-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35+ yrs

b. Recode and label (variable and value) birth weight to a new categorical (numerical) variable with <2500 grams as low birth weight  and >= 2500 as normal birth weight

c. Recode and label (variable and value) birth weight to a new categorical (numerical)  variable with <1500 grams as very low birth weight, 1500-2499 grams as moderately low birth weight and >= 2500 as normal birth weight

d. Compute a new numerical variable for the presence of medical and/or obstetric risk of the mother by combining history of  i) preterm labor, ii) uterine irritability and  iii) hypertension, with value labels indicating 0=no med-ob condition, 1=one condition, 2=two conditions, 3=three conditions and so on.

Before computing the new variable, make sure that the missing values are properly assigned for each of the original variable so that those cases do not get counted in the computation.

Section III. In your assignment, show all the steps in sequence  by a) using syntax (pasting from dialog box is allowed) or b) taking screenshots using the dialog box or c)  writing down the sequence you used from the dialog box) you used to  (20 points)

a. Compute a new gestational age (in weeks, rounded) variable to indicate when the subject visited her doctor for the first time after diagnosed with pregnancy (Hint: Consider  LMP date and the date of first visit as the 2 dates). Label the new variable appropriately

b. Compute a new categorical variable from the above weeks of gestation age at 1 ^st prenatal visit to create a gestational age in trimester ( =<13 weeks=1 ^st trimester; 14-26 weeks=2 ^nd trimester; 27 weeks or later=3 ^rd trimester), when the subject visited her doctor for the first time after diagnosed with pregnancy . Provide variable label and value label for this numeric variable

Section IV. . In your assignment, show all the steps in sequence by a) using syntax (pasting from dialog box is allowed) or b) taking screenshots using the dialog box or c)  writing down the sequence you used from the dialog box) you used to (20 points)

Compute a variable named "ppgbmi" indicating pre-pregnancy BMI at the woman’s LMP. Use standard  computation methods for BMI and create a

a. continuous variable, with label, for BMI

b. categorical BMI variable (numeric) defined and l value labeled as a) underweight, b) normal weight, c) overweight, and d) obese, using CDC guidelines (reference citation required).

Section V. Provide frequency distribution of all new categorical variables which you created in sections II-IV as well as include the following variables: smoking during pregnancy, history of premature labor, history of hypertension, presence of uterine irritability, and medical-obstetric conditions.  Document the steps at the top of the frequency tables, by a) using syntax (pasting from dialog box is allowed) or b) taking screenshots using the dialog box or c)  writing down the sequence you used from the dialog box) (20 points).

Price: $20.07

Solution: The downloadable solution consists of 8 pages, 1207 words and 12 charts.
Deliverable: Word Document