Scribd
Upload
82 views

Unit 7 - Stacking and Merging Data Files

This document outlines the learning objectives and activities for a unit on stacking and merging data files in SPSS. The objectives are to compare and apply stacking and merging of files. Learning activities include readings, presentations on random case selection and stacking/merging, and an assignment to practice stacking and merging files using provided data files. The assignment involves randomly selecting cases, stacking files, sorting by ID, and merging files while correctly matching cases and variables between files.

Uploaded by

arhodes777
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
82 views

Unit 7 - Stacking and Merging Data Files

This document outlines the learning objectives and activities for a unit on stacking and merging data files in SPSS. The objectives are to compare and apply stacking and merging of files. Learning activities include readings, presentations on random case selection and stacking/merging, and an assignment to practice stacking and merging files using provided data files. The assignment involves randomly selecting cases, stacking files, sorting by ID, and merging files while correctly matching cases and variables between files.

Uploaded by

arhodes777
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Unit 7 Stacking and Merging Data Files

Objectives
To successfully complete this learning unit, you will be expected to:
1.

Compare and discriminate stacking and merging.

2.

Stack files in SPSS with correct cases.

3.

Merge files in SPSS with correct cases.

4.

Merge files with correct variables.

Learning Activities
u07s1 Studies
Readings
Use your SPSS Essentials: Managing and Analyzing Social Sciences Data text to complete the following:

Chapter 7, "Collapsing and Merging Data Files," pages 7180.

Random Selection of Cases

Launch Presentation |

Transcript

Random Selection of Cases


This presentation demonstrates how to randomly select subsets of cases from the data file. Until all cases are
reselected, subsequent SPSS analyses will only use the selected cases.

Stacking and Merging Data Files

Launch Presentation |

Transcript

Stacking and Merging Data Files


This presentation demonstrates how to stack and merge the data files as required in this unit's assignment.

u07d1 Stacking and Merging Data Files


Discuss both types of file combination procedures and give an example of a situation in educational research where
the procedures might be useful. Be sure to describe the specific variables involved and why either stacking or
merging would give the desired result.

Response Guidelines
Respond to at least two other learners by modifying the situation described in their posts in such a way that one of
the two merging operations would be useful.

Resources

Attributes and Evaluation of Discussion Contributions.

Professional Communications and Writing Guide.

u07a1 Stacking and Merging Files


For this assignment, you will be creating two new data files that combine existing data files in specific ways. The Unit
7 STACK and MERGE Details document in the Resources gives precise steps for one method of merging the files.
Merging is one of the more complex and sensitive procedures in SPSS, so following the instructions precisely is very
important.
To start this assignment:

Create a subdirectory named unit7 in your psy7615 directory.

Download the data files unit_7a.sav, unit_7b.sav, and unit_7_rent.sav from the Resources and save
them to the unit7 subdirectory on your computer.

Complete the following operations.


1.

Open unit_7a.sav in SPSS and perform the following operations.


o Using the SELECT CASES command from the DATA menu, randomly select 10 cases and delete
the unselected cases. Save the new file.
o Stack the unit_7a.sav file that contains the 10 randomly selected cases and unit_7b.sav file.
o Sort the new stacked data file by the ID variable (from lowest to highest, or ASCENDING).

o Save the new file as unit_7_stacked.sav. The file should contain 20 cases, made up of the 10
randomly selected cases from unit_7a.sav, and the 10 cases contained in the unit_7b.sav file.
2.

Open the unit_7_rent.sav file in SPSS and perform the following operations.
o Sort the unit_7_rent.sav file based on ascending values of the ID variable, then save the file. You
can save it over the original version using the same name, because the only change you have
made is to sort it.
o Close and re-open SPSS (to avoid confusion among data sets while performing complex merge
operations).
o Open the unit_7_stacked.sav data file.
o Merge the unit_7_rent.sav file with the unit_7_stacked.sav using ID number as the key
variable. Perform the merge such that your final merged file has the following characteristics:

It should only include cases that came from the unit_7_stacked.sav file (20 cases).

It should Include all the variables from the unit_7_stacked.sav file.

It should only include only the RENT variable from the unit_7_rent.sav file, but exclude
the AREA variable.

o Save the new file as unit_7_merged.sav.


3.

Submit the unit_7_stacked.sav, unit_7_merged.sav, and associated output in the assignment area
by attaching it to your assignment submission.

Resources

Stacking and Merging Files Scoring Guide.

UNIT 7 STACK and MERGE Details

"unit_7a.sav"

"unit_7_rent.sav"

"unit_7b.sav"

You might also like