ERSH6300: SPSS Assignment 1 1

Seeking to further investigate a link between malnutrition and retardation of brain

development, a child psychologist collected data from 32 babies (participants) during a span of

two weeks. Noting that babies with a low birth weight may be at risk for slower development,

data was reported according to gender and weight to the nearest ounce. Figure 1 illustrates this

breakdown.

Distribution of Gender

Gender  

FIGURE 1. Distribution of gender (1=female, 2=male) on babies included in malnutrition

study (N=32)
Source: Study 1 data collected over two weeks on 32 births.

Dousay, Tonia February 8, 2010

 ERSH6300: SPSS Assignment 1 2

Figures 2 and 3 display the data as distributions of the variable weight for the entire

sample, regardless of gender. Figure 2 presents a stem and leaf plot of the data to show the

distribution to the nearest ounce, demonstrating a positively-skewed distribution.

Weight Stem and Leave Plot

Frequency Stem & Leaf

2.00 7 . 23
3.00 8 . 078
5.00 9 . 46689
6.00 10 . 455899
5.00 11 . 00223
3.00 12 . 114
3.00 13 . 049
2.00 14 . 44
2.00 15 . 00
1.00 16 . 1

Stem width: 10.00

Each leaf: 1 case(s)

FIGURE 2. Distribution of weight reported to the nearest ounce

Source: Study 1 data collected over two weeks on 32 births.

Figure 3 shows the distribution of birth weight around the median to the 1st and 3rd

quartiles with calculated outliers greater than 176.5 oz. and less than 48.5 oz. based upon

investigation using the Interquartile Range (IQR). According to the data, no outliers are present.

Dousay, Tonia February 8, 2010

 ERSH6300: SPSS Assignment 1 3

FIGURE 3. Distribution of weight reported in Study 1 (to the nearest ounce)

Source: Study 1 data collected over two weeks on 32 births.

As indicated in Table 1, participant weight varied from a minimum of 72 ounces to a

maximum of 161 ounces with a mean of 112.44 ounces (SD=22.67 ounces). The median weight

for all participants reported was 109.5 ounces with a 1st quartile at 96.5 ounces and the 3rd

quartile at 128.5 ounces.

Dousay, Tonia February 8, 2010

 ERSH6300: SPSS Assignment 1 4

TABLE 1. Descriptive statistics of the variable weight (oz.) for all participants (N=32).

Variable Mean SD Min Q1 Median Q3 Max

Weight 112.44 22.67 72 96.50 109.50 128.50 161

Source: Study 1 data collected over two weeks on 32 births.

Looking at each gender separately, Figure 4 presents a stem and leaf plot of the variable

weight for females (N=13). This distribution seems to approach a normal distribution.

Weight Stem and Leave Plot

Frequency Stem & Leaf

3.00 0 . 789
8.00 1 . 00011234
2.00 1 . 55

Stem width: 100.00

Each leaf: 1 case(s)

FIGURE 4. Distribution of weight reported to the nearest ounce of female participants

(N=13)
Source: Study 1 data collected over two weeks on 13 births.

Table 3 summarizes data of the female weight group as mean, standard deviation, and 5-

point summary (minimum value – 1st quartile – median – 3rd quartile – maximum value). From

this, it is evident that the weights of female participants varied from a minimum of 73 ounces to

a maximum of 150 ounces with a mean of 115.77 ounces (SD=24.13 ounces). The median

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 ERSH6300: SPSS Assignment 1 5

weight found for all female participants studied was 110 ounces with a first quartile of 100

ounces and third quartile of 141.50 ounces.

TABLE 2. Descriptive statistics of the variable weight (oz.) for female participants (N=13).

Variable Mean SD Min Q1 Median Q3 Max

Weight 115.77 24.13 73 100 110 141.50 150

Source: Study 1 data collected over two weeks on 13 births.

Looking at the male sample, Figure 5 presents a stem and leaf plot of the variable weight

for males (N=19). This distribution represents a positively-skewed distribution.

Weight Stem and Leave Plot

Frequency Stem & Leaf

1.00 7 . 2
2.00 8 . 07
4.00 9 . 4689
3.00 10 . 559
3.00 11 . 022
2.00 12 . 14
2.00 13 . 04
1.00 14 . 4
1.00 Extremes (>=161)

Stem width: 10.00

Each leaf: 1 case(s)

FIGURE 5. Distribution of weight reported to the nearest ounce of male participants (N=19)
Source: Study 1 data collected over two weeks on 19 births.

The mail weight group is summarized in Table 3 as mean, standard deviation, and 5-point

summary (minimum value – 1st quartile – median – 3rd quartile – maximum value). Weights of

male participants varied from a minimum of 72 ounces to a maximum of 161 ounces with a

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 ERSH6300: SPSS Assignment 1 6

mean of 110.16 ounces (SD=21.98 ounces). The median weight found for all male participants

studied was 109 ounces with a first quartile of 96 ounces and third quartile of 124 ounces.

TABLE 3. Descriptive statistics of the variable weight (oz.) for male participants (N=93).

Variable Mean SD Min Q1 Median Q3 Max

Weight 110.16 21.98 72 96 109 124 161

Source: Study 1 data collected over two weeks on 19 births.

Table 2 shows that the 13 female participants exhibited a smallest weight of 73 ounces

with the largest at 150 ounces. Given that Table 3 shows that the smallest of the 19 male

participants weighed 72 ounces and the largest weighed 161 ounces, it is clear that male

participants experienced a greater range of birth weight. Furthermore, these numbers indicate

that the male participants included both the smallest and largest newborns. However, these same

figures show that female participants had a larger mean weight than the boys, at 115.77 ounces

and 110.16 ounces respectively. The females also had the larger standard deviation in weight at

24.13 ounces compared to the males at 21.98 ounces. As was indicated for the entire sample,

data for neither gender exhibited outliers.

With regard to concerns about low birth weight correlating to slow development, a factor

of two standard deviations below the mean was considered. In the case of Study 1, the standard

deviation for all births (N=32) was equal to 22.67 (mean=112.44). This places the high risk

factor at 67.10 ounces and below. Given that the minimum weight exhibited in the sample was

72 ounces, the study did not include a participant who was a high risk for slow development.

However, it should be noted that five of the participants in the study were born with birth

weights between one and two standard deviations below the mean, and could therefore be

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 ERSH6300: SPSS Assignment 1 7

considered at risk for delayed development. Lastly, in terms of overall distribution of weight,

11.3% of the participants exhibited weight greater than 140 ounces and 83.9% of the participants

exhibited weight greater than 90 ounces.

Dousay, Tonia February 8, 2010