I am working on a survey design for a research project exploring relationships between current college student attitudes on Response to Intervention and School Wide Positive Behavior Support in their previous preK-12th gradez, Stress, and what they expect from their college experiences.

What I would like do accomplish in terms of data analysis is check for correlations, test for regression models, variance, and (this is outside of my experience and the source I found was vague) use factor analysis for quality control of variables for future research design.

The snag is that the survey uses likert scales, and consists of variable point scales (i.e. 4, 5, 7) either measuring frequency or agreement. The variable points are logistically sound, but ensuring I properly select and run the analyses with SPSS has me climbing the walls.

My tests will all be non-parametric, and in the past I took the mean for categorical likert points for my variable value per category (each category was comprised of multiple likert questions but I the variable is/are the categories not the individual questions).

But the necessary modifications from a conceptual standpoint for the survey are causing me issues with determining the appropriate tests. (I.e. some categories have different value ranges than the rest now, before they all shared the same value range so it was easier to work with).

So I would appreciate any information or advice on the matter.

Sincerely,

Raymond Yates

P.S. If the website attributes articles to my name, rest assured it wasn't me.