SPSS Research Report 1 1

Running head: SPSS Research Report 1 Data Files

Project #4, SPSS Research Report 1 using yrbsol.dat data base

Lathaniel F. Mills

SOWK 300, Section 1

Tuskegee University

Ms McArthur

March 24, 2010

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Abstract

This paper is a research report found through the social work server. The data was collect from
The National College Health Risk Behavior Survey. With this report we look at three variables
and made them in to a bivariate and multivariate hypothesis. In this paper we will present the
hypothesis, and talk about the rationale behind them. We will also look at the results of the
research in the form of APA style bivariate and multivariate tables, and last we will discuss the
information presented. This is a real good topic that will get you thinking about it your done
reading.
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Hypothesis

The data I wanted to take a look was the risk that college students take, so I used the yrbscol.dat
data base. The relationship of the variables I decided to use was R’s membership in a fraternity
or sorority has an impact on rather or not they have been drinking and driving in the past 30
days. The independent variable is R’s membership in a fraternity or sorority. The dependent
variable is how many times in the past 30 days did the respondents drink and drive. The values
of the independent variable are yes or no, and the values for the dependent variable are 1, 0
times, 2, 1 to 3 times, and 3, 4 to 6 times in the past 30 days.

Next I took the variables I had for my bivariate analysis and added a control variable to see how
it would impact the data. The control variable that I decided to use was how the respondents
viewed their racial status, the values for this variable are 1, white, 2, black, and 3, other. For this
research report I will only be looking at the white and black respondents. My multivariate
hypothesis is a higher percent of white fraternity and sorority members drink and drive more
then black fraternity and sorority members. The data will show the true results of this data.

Rationale

As a college student and a member of a social fraternity I understand the risking behavior we
take. I also know that alcohol plays a role in the fraternity life, and activities. That’s why I feel
that the respondent membership in a fraternity or sorority has a big impact on how many times
they drink and drive. Even though this is a terrible and dangerous practice, it does happen in the
college world. I just think more needs to be done to reduce or stop it from happening.

The reasoning for my multivariate hypothesis is that I am also a member of a fraternity that has
white and black members, and it is very noticeable that alcohol plays an even bigger role in their
fraternity life, then the black chapters of this organization. They are also a little bit more reckless
when it comes to being safe while under the influence of alcohol. As black people we seem to
take care of each other better, and more inclined to make sure people are not driving drunk. No
matter the race we should make sure that all people are safe, and make sure that people do not
drive under the influence of alcohol.
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Results

Table 1

How many times in the past 30 days has R driven while under the influence by R’s membership
in a fraternity/sorority or not (%)

R’s membership in a fraternity/sorority or not

# of Times Yes No

0 Times 67.3 74.6

1 to 3 Times 23.2 20.2

4 to 6 Times 9.3 4.6

(N) (9.5) (90.5)

Source: The National College Health Risk Behavior Survey, 1995

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Table 2

How many times in the past 30 days has R driven while under the influence by R’s membership
in a fraternity/sorority or not Controlling for R’s Race(%)

R’s membership in a fraternity/sorority or not

# of Times Yes No

White Respondents

0 Times 61.0 70.8

1 to 3 Times 27.1 23.3

4 to 6 Times 11.6 5.5

(N) (10.5) (89.5)

Black Respondents

0 Times 85.7 85.0

1 to 3 Times 9.5 12.2

4 to 6 Times 4.8 1.9

(N) 9.9 90.1

Source: The National College Health Risk Behavior Survey, 1995

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Discussion

In the tables we see that the data presented in the form of bivariate and multivariate tables. The
tables measured how many times the respondents drove while under the influence of alcohol, and
at the same time measuring how many times in that month they drove. The groups were split into
zero times, one to three times, and four to six times. The graph also breaks the respondents up
into two groups, fraternity/sorority members and regular. For table one we see that 67.3% of the
respondents that are apart of a social fraternity or sorority did not drive while under the influence
in the past thirty days. In the category of one to three times we see that 23.2% of the respondents
that were a part of a fraternity or sorority. The data also shows 9.3% of the members of a
fraternity or sorority said yes they had drove under the influence of alcohol four to six times.
This data is really alarming, because we see that members of a fraternity are drinking and
driving, and more then once. This behavior is not safe and is dangerous to the respondents and
others on the road. When looking at the whole picture it is not just members of a
fraternity/sorority, but a total of 24.8% of the regular respondents said yes to drinking and
driving at least once under the influence of alcohol. Something has to be done to stop these
people from drinking and driving.

Next we looked at the data of how many respondents had driven drunk by rather or not they were
in a fraternity/sorority controlling for the respondents race. We looked at the black and white
respondents for this specific report. For my hypothesis I felt that more white fraternity/sorority
members would say yes to driving drunk then black fraternity/sorority members. When we
compare the data that 27.1% of the white fraternity/sorority members said yes to driving drunk,
while 9.5% of the black fraternity/sorority members said yes to driving drunk. Looking at the
total out come we see that 38.7% of the white fraternity/sorority respondents have driven under
influence before. When we look at the total for black fraternity/sorority members we see that
14.3% of them have driven under the influence before. So my hypothesis was right that more
white members drive under the influence then black members. More has to be done to prevent
both groups from driving under the influence.

I set out with this research report to look at the risk factors of young people. I started by looking
at The National College Health Risk Behavior Survey on the social work server. There I was
able to find my variables that I was interested in. when I found them I look at the data on the
SPSS program, and ran the information I needed for my report. I wanted to take a close look on
how members of fraternities and sororities treated the responsibility of safe driving. I have found
that a good number of respondents that were members of these groups had indeed driven under
the influence of alcohol. This is not to say that all members of these groups do that, in fact the
data shows that 67.3% of the respondents that were a member of a fraternity or sorority did not
drink in drive in the past thirty days. But there were a good number of the respondents who did. I
am shock that so many college students would be doing dangerous behavior that could harm
them or worst somebody else. Students need to understand that having fun is okay, but when it
comes to endangering others, you have to rethink your action.
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References

undergraduate college students. (1997). The National College Heath Risk Behavior
Survey. MMWR, 46(6). Retrieved from yrbscol.dat database.