Website link: https://gssdataexplorer.norc.org/

Click "register" and make an account. Once that is complete, "sign-in" with your account.

Once you are signed-in, go to the home page of GSS Data Explorer. Now, click "Search GSS Variables". Here we are going to add variables to our crosstab.

For this assignment, you will need to a total of 8 variables: years, id, ballot, sex, race, nateduc, nataid, and natenvir. Year, id, and ballet should be automatically added to your cart. If not, search for them and add them to the cart.

Year represents to year the data was collected. For this discussion board, we are going to focus on 2014. ID represents the identification number for each respondent of the survey. Ballot represents the ballot number. You need ballot and id in your variable cart, however we will not use these variables.

Sex, race, nateduc, nataid, and natenvir must be added to your cart by searching. You can do this by clicking "Search GSS Variables". You can search variables by name or keywords. For example, below I added the gender variable by typing variable name "sex". I choose the "sex" variable and added it to the cart.

Do the same to add race, nateduc, nataid, and natenvir.

Now, that you those variables, we can use the "Analyze Data" feature. Click "Actions" and choose "Analyze Data" .

Then, choose the "Cross Tabulation" and click "Next"

Give your cross tab a title in the Name field. In the right-hand side, there is a dark gray menu with the variables. Drag "nateduc" to the Column Variable field. (Note: Before dragging any variables to the column variable field, you must click "x" or new variables wont be added.)

Then, drag the "sex" to the Row Variable. (Note: Before dragging any variables to the row variable field, you must click "x" or new variables wont be added.)

Then, drag "year" to the "case selection" field. And put for the range 2014 and 2014. See below

Then, scroll down. Click "none" for weights field. Click "exclude missing values" and click "Create Analysis"

A cross tab will appear. The cross tab shows the frequency count of the numbers. Remember in the module, we discussed percentages are more meaningful.

Click "Display options" and choose "row percentages"

Now that you are familiar with GSS Data Explorer tool, answer the following questions.

Throughout these exercise, we will be making cross tabs with independent and dependent variables. Generally, demographic variables are independent variables (such as race, gender, party affiliation, age, educational attainment, etc…). When making cross-tabs, generally independent variables go in the rows. Also, in cross tabs, it is most meaningful with row percentages.

Independent variables (IV): sex (Male or Female); race (White, Black, or other)

Dependent variables (DV): Attitudes on spending for:

-Improving the nation's education system (NATEDUC)

-Foreign aid (NATAID)

-The environment (NATENVIR)

Closed-ended answers for all three attitude questions: Too little; About right; Too much ("don't know" and "refused" were also answers, but are marked as "missing values")

1) Make a cross-tab with race (IV) and nateduc (DV). Write 1-2 sentences of your findings. Make sure to use the row percentages.

2) Make a cross-tab with gender (IV) and natenvir (DV). Write 1-2 sentences of your findings. Make sure to use the row percentages.

3) Make a cross-tab with gender (IV) and nataid (DV). Write 1-2 sentences of your findings. Make sure to use the row percentages.

4) Pick one of the following IV: Political party affiliation (partyid), religious affiliation (relig), martial status (martial), educational attainment (degree).

Pick one of the following DV: Attitudes on spending for:

-space exploration program (natspac)

-mass transportation (natmass)

-military spending (natarms)

5) Make a hypothesis from your IV and DV from #4.

6) Make a cross-tab with row percentages in the GSS data explorer. Then, use the table feature (the icon looks like a grid) to make a cross-tab in your discussion post.

7) Read a peer's #4-#6. Evaluate their hypothesis with the crosstab.