I am interested in creating an index of homeownership motive among low income earners in Nigeria but the data collected does not contain a variable on Homeownership motive; however, there are four variables that asked the respondents to rate on a scale of 10 (very important) to 1 (not very important) the importance of the following: family comfort, social influence, investment and weather. How do I create this new index variable in SPSS or which others ways can l analyse this. I also want to show respondents with high, medium and low homeownership motive. Please I need assistance.
Hello John,
Creating ad hoc proxies for variables that do not appear in a data set is always a challenge; sometimes an impossible one. I'd suggest that you consult with subject matter experts (I'm not sure whether this example is more in line with sociology or behavioral economics) to determine whether they would endorse any set of the four items you've mentioned as possible contributors to an ersatz indicator for home ownership motivation.
Obviously, if you were planning your own study, you'd look for an established measure of this construct and incorporate it in your data collection.
Good luck with your work.
As David Morse indicates, there is always going to be a theoretical question about whether a set of variables actually measure a desired concept. There is also a second question at the level of whether the items you want to combine actually form a scale at all. The classic tool for examining that issue is coefficient alpha (sometimes known as Cronbach's alpha).
I am glad to read all your suggestions and contributions. As suggested by David L. Morgan, the four variables l want to combine satisfied the recommended reliability test. According to performance theory drawn from psychology management and applied in urban planning, the ability to perform a function (in this case "contribute to housing production") is a function of three components: individual characteristics, situational and regulatory aspects. The theory submits that these factors either facilitate or impede performance. My question is focusing on individual characteristics and motive is one of them. Guided by this theoretical framework, l want to treat family comfort, social influence, investment and weather as motivators of housing production among low income earners because they have been established in housing studies as homeownership motivational factors.
Madhurima provided a link but unfortunately the link did not treat variable combination and grouping. So, l need further assistance. I remain grateful
Hi John,
Do you know how to get to the syntax function in SPSS? If not, go to analyse > descriptives > frequencies. Put anything in variables then press paste at the bottom. This will open syntax. Delete the code that is pasted in there.
You are now ready to code your new variable (I cannot write a code for you as you have not defined your new variable). However, if you understand this code you can define your new variable.
COMPUTE IndexOfHomeOwnership=0.
IF (FamilyCohort >=7) & (SocialInfluence >=7) & (Investment >=7) & (Weather >=7) IndexOfHomeOwnership=1.
IF (FamilyCohort >=5 AND FamilyCohort =5 AND SocialInfluence =5 AND Investment =5 AND Weather =3 AND FamilyCohort =3 AND SocialInfluence =3 AND Investment =3 AND Weather
Thanks so much Mathew. this sound very credible, I will try it and get back to you
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