Professonalization of Exercise PhysiologistsonlineVol 6 No 4 April 2003

SPSS Guide for Exercise PhysiologyLarry BirnbaumDepartment of Exercise PhysiologyThe College of St. ScholasticaDuluth, MN 55811

Introduction

This tutorial is intended to help EXP students engaged in research use SPSS to statistically analyze their data. It does not cover all SPSS capabilities, but rather focuses on what EXP students most likely need. Specific examples are provided to illustrate how to enter and analyze data and interpret the results.

Whenever the same subjects are used for both treatment and control groups, SPSS refers to this as a repeated measures design. Most EXP studies are likely to be repeated measures. Furthermore, since we typically measure several physiological parameters (i.e., dependent variables), we have a multivariate repeated measures design (ANOVA), and since we measure the physiological parameters at two or more times, it is a doubly multivariate repeated measures design.

Example 1Five* subjects participate in a massage study. Each subject will rest for 15 minutes (control) or receive a 15 minute massage (treatment) followed by 15 minutes of exercise at 75% of HRmax. Whether the subject receives the massage or rest is randomly determined, but each subject is used for both groups (massage; no massage). For example, subject 1 receives massage then exercises for the first round of testing. The next time she comes in for testing, say 2 days later, she rests for 15 minutes, then exercises. Subject 2 might not get the massage for the first round depending on the coin toss, or whatever method is used to randomly decide who gets the treatment (massage) for the first round of testing. He would rest for 15 minutes then exercise for the first round. The next time he came to the lab for testing, he would receive the massage, then exercise. Several physiologic variables are measured during (e.g., VO2, VCO2, VE, Fb, HR) or near the end of each session (e.g., BP, Q). The question is, “ Does massage significantly alter any physiologic parameters at rest or during exercise?” The null hypothesis states that massage does not alter any physiologic parameters at rest or during exercise. If this was a dissertation, there would be a null hypothesis written for each dependent variable.

*This example is for illustration only. A minimum of 10-12 subjects should be used in an EXP study. Numerous references state that 20 subjects is the minimum to achieve sufficient power, validity, etc., but completing an EXP study in one semester generally necessitates fewer subjects.

Example 2A tilt-table study is performed on five subjects. Several physiologic variables are measured in three positions, upright, supine and head-down. The subjects remain in each position for 10 minutes and measurements are made during and at the end of each 10 minute period. The null hypothesis states that none of the physiological variables will be significantly different in any of the three positions. The alternative hypothesis states that one or more physiologic variables will be significantly different in at least one position compared to the other two positions.

Entering Data

Example 1For illustration purposes, only heart rate and systolic blood pressure will be used. To get SPSS started, click on Start > Programs > SPSS for Windows > SPSS 11.0 for Windows. The Data View will be displayed on the screen. You will be entering data in the cells, but you need to describe your data in the Variable View first. Click on the Variable View tab (lower left corner). The name cannot be more than 8 characters. For this example, we will use the following names for the heart rate and systolic blood pressure data:

hrcr = heart rate, control (no massage), at resthrmr = heart rate, massage, at restsbpcr = systolic blood pressure, control, at restsbpmr = systolic blood pressure, massage, at resthrce = heart rate, control, during exercisehrme = heart rate, massage, during exercisesbpce = systolic blood pressure, control, during exercisesbpme = systolic blood pressure, massage, during exercise

The Type is Numeric, Width is typically set at 8, Decimals at 0 since HR and SBP are whole numbers, and the remaining columns are left at their default settings. The Width setting indicates the number of characters (including numbers, commas, letters, etc.). Use your Manuscript Guidelines handout to help you select the correct decimal setting for each physiologic (dependent) variable.

Once you have the data described in the Variable View, click on Data View and enter your data under the appropriate column headings. It is helpful to have another person read the data to you as you input it. Be careful to accurately input your data. Obviously, any input error will produce erroneous results. When all your data is entered, your are ready to analyze it. You should save it first by clicking on File > Save As, then specify where you want it saved (use a floppy disk) and give it a file name that you will remember (e.g., massage raw data.sav). Note the extension is always “sav” for raw data.

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Example 2As in example 1, only two variables, stroke volume and systolic blood pressure, will be used to illustrate how to use SPSS. The names used for these two variables measured in each of the three positions will be as follows:

SVU = stroke volume, uprightSVS = stroke volume, supineSVD = stroke volume, head downSBPU = systolic blood pressure, uprightSBPS = systolic blood pressure, supineSBPD = systolic blood pressure, head down

As in example one, the Type is Numeric and the Decimal setting is set at 0 since SV and SBP are whole numbers. Once you have the data described in the Variable View, click on Data View and enter your data under the appropriate column headings. When all your data is entered, save it to a floppy disk, then analyze it.

Analyzing Data

Example 1There is one within-subjects factor in this study, massage, which has two levels, massage vs no massage. We are measuring the effect of massage at rest and during exercise only to make the study more efficient. In essence, we are doing two separate studies, one at rest and one with exercise. Thus, while we input the data as four variables for each physiological measure (HR/no massage/rest, HR/massage/rest, HR/no massage/exercise, HR/massage/exercise), we will only be comparing two of the variables for each condition (rest and exercise).

Once your raw data is entered, click on Analyze > General Linear Model (GLM) > Repeated Measures. For the within-subject factor name, type “massage” in the window, then type in “2” for the number of levels. Click on the Add button. Now click on the Measure button. Type “hr” in the window for heart rate, then click on the Add button. Do the same for systolic blood pressure using “sbp” as the label. Repeat this for each physiological parameter measured. The screen should appear as follows:

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Next, click on the Define button. Highlight the appropriate variables in the window on the left, then click on the arrow (►). Be sure each dependent variable is identified correctly (e.g., hrcr with (1, hr); sbpmr with (2, sbp)) in the Within-Subjects window. We will do two analyses, one that compares all the dependent variables for massage and no massage at rest, and one that compares all the dependent variables for massage and no massage during exercise. Once all the comparisons are defined (for rest), the screen should appear as below. Click on the OK button. It will take a few seconds to complete the analysis. Repeat the process to analyze the dependent variables during exercise. Save your output data to your floppy disk using a file name you will remember. Use the correct extension (spo). You may wish to print a hard copy as well. Print in the landscape mode.

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Example 2There is one within-subjects factor in this study, body position, which has three levels, upright, supine and head down. Once your raw data is entered, click on Analyze > General Linear Model (GLM) > Repeated Measures. It is a repeated measures design because we are using the same subjects for all three positions. For the within-subject factor name, type “position” in the window, then type in “3” for the number of levels. Click on the Add button. Now click on the Measure button. Type “sv” in the window for stroke volume, then click on the Add button. Do the same for systolic blood pressure using “sbp” as the label. Repeat this for each physiological parameter measured. The screen should appear as follows:

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Now click on the Define button. Highlight the appropriate variables in the window on the left, then click on the arrow (►). Each variable must be “defined” correctly. We will do one analysis that compares all the dependent variables for each body position. Once all the comparisons are defined, the screen should appear as below. Click on the OK button. It will take a few seconds to complete the analysis. Save your output data to your floppy disk.

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Interpreting the Results

Example 1Check the first table of Within-Subjects Factors to verify that each dependent variable is identified correctly. In this example, note that in the first column no massage is identified as #1 and massage as #2. This should correlate with your identification scheme in the Dependent Variable column (e.g., heart rate no massage at rest is HRCR = HR 1; heart rate massage at rest is HRMR = HR 2).

Within-Subjects Factors

HRCRHRMRSBPCRSBPMR

MASSAGE1212

MeasureHR

SBP

DependentVariable

Now you have a lot of test results, but which ones do you use to interpret your data (i.e., are any of the measured physiologic parameters significantly affected by the

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treatment?). First, check to see if the sphericity assumption is met (Mauchly’s Test of Sphericity). Epsilon should be greater than 0.75 (1.000 indicates perfect sphericity). If epsilon is <0.75, the results of the Greenhouse-Geisser or Huynh-Feldt corrections (univariate tests) may be used. If the sphericity assumption is met, we are interested in the Tests of Within-Subjects Effects. Of the four Multivariate test results given, Wilks’ Lambda is commonly used. Note that the multivariate analysis yields significance at the 0.001 level for rest and at the 0.003 level for exercise. Since these are significant (p<.05), a univariate analysis follows to determine which physiologic parameters were significantly affected by the treatment. If the significance level is greater than 0.05, no further analysis is required, although SPSS will typically still complete the univariate analyses. Ignore the univariate results and report the F value and significance (e.g., F = 4.132; p = .204).

Multivariate analysis of resting data:Multivariateb,c

.989 133.253a 2.000 3.000 .001.011 133.253a 2.000 3.000 .001

88.835 133.253a 2.000 3.000 .00188.835 133.253a 2.000 3.000 .001

Pillai's TraceWilks' LambdaHotelling's TraceRoy's Largest Root

Within Subjects EffectMASSAGE

Value F Hypothesis df Error df Sig.

Exact statistica.

Design: Intercept Within Subjects Design: MASSAGE

b.

Tests are based on averaged variables.c.

Multivariate analysis of exercise data:Multivariateb,c

.981 76.751a 2.000 3.000 .003

.019 76.751a 2.000 3.000 .00351.167 76.751a 2.000 3.000 .00351.167 76.751a 2.000 3.000 .003

Pillai's TraceWilks' LambdaHotelling's TraceRoy's Largest Root

Within Subjects EffectMASSAGE

Value F Hypothesis df Error df Sig.

Exact statistica.

Design: Intercept Within Subjects Design: MASSAGE

b.

Tests are based on averaged variables.c.

According to statisticians, large sample numbers are required for multivariate analysis. We typically have small numbers of subjects in exercise physiology research. Consequently, we should just report the univariate results and specify the dependent variables that were measured (e.g., VO2, HR, BP, etc.) so the reader clearly knows how many variables were statistically analyzed.

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The univariate analysis revealed that both HR and SBP are significantly affected by massage at rest (p<.001 for both HR and SBP) and during exercise (p<.002 for HR; p<.003 or SBP) following the massage. The F value for HR at rest is 117.042, for SBP, 152.111. For the exercise data, the F value for HR is 58.517, for SBP, 42.976. These data are summarized in the Tests of Within-Subjects Contrasts.

Resting data:Tests of Within-Subjects Contrasts

280.900 1 280.900 117.042 .0001232.100 1 1232.100 152.111 .000

9.600 4 2.40032.400 4 8.100

MASSAGELinearLinearLinearLinear

MeasureHRSBPHRSBP

SourceMASSAGE

Error(MASSAGE)

Type III Sumof Squares df Mean Square F Sig.

Exercise data:Tests of Within-Subjects Contrasts

883.600 1 883.600 58.517 .002532.900 1 532.900 42.976 .00360.400 4 15.10049.600 4 12.400

MASSAGELinearLinearLinearLinear

MeasureHRSBPHRSBP

SourceMASSAGE

Error(MASSAGE)

Type III Sumof Squares df Mean Square F Sig.

Use a table to present your results in your research report (in the results section). Typically, the mean ± one standard deviation, the F value and the significance are reported for each dependent variable. The mean and standard deviation can be obtained by clicking on Analyze > Descriptive Statistics > Descriptives. Move all the dependent variables into the right window in the order in which you want them presented and click OK (see table below). Mean squares and/or sum of squares and degrees of freedom may be reported instead of the mean ± one standard deviation. Standard error of the estimate is sometimes reported in place of the standard deviation. The tabled results for example 1 are provided below. Remember, HR and SBP are reported in whole numbers.

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Descriptive Statistics

5 65 74 68.80 3.9625 55 62 58.20 2.8645 120 130 125.00 3.6065 100 105 102.80 1.9245 150 164 158.00 5.6125 135 145 139.20 4.2075 155 165 159.60 3.9755 141 149 145.00 3.3915

HRCRHRMRSBPCRSBPMRHRCEHRMESBPCESBPMEValid N (listwise)

N Minimum Maximum MeanStd.

Deviation

Table 1. Physiologic responses comparing massage to no massage during rest and exercise.

Physiological variables

No Massage

(Mean ± SD)

Massage

(Mean ± SD)

F value Significance

HR, rest 69 ± 4 58 ± 3 117.042 <.001

HR, exercise 158 ± 6 139 ± 4 58.517 .002

SBP, rest 125 ± 4 103 ± 2 152.111 <.001

SBP, exercise 160 ± 4 145 ± 3 42.976 .003

We can report that a multivariate repeated measures ANOVA was used to evaluate the effects of massage at rest and during exercise. A significant effect was found for rest (Lambda(2,3) = 133.25, p = .001) and exercise (Lambda(2,3) = 76.75, p = .003). Follow-up univariate ANOVAs indicated that both HR and SBP are significantly affected by massage at rest (HR: F(1,4) = 117.04, p<.001; SBP: F(1,4) = 152.11, p<.001) and during exercise (HR: F(1,4) = 58.52, p = .002; SBP: F(1,4) = 42.98, p = .003).

Example 2Check the first table of Within-Subjects Factors to verify that each dependent variable is identified correctly. Note that in the first column the upright position is identified as #1, supine as #2 and head down as #3. This should correlate with your identification scheme in the Dependent Variable column (e.g., SV1 = SVU, SV2 = SVS; SBP3 = SBPD, etc.).

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Within-Subjects Factors

SVUSVSSVDSBPUSBPSSBPD

POSITION123123

MeasureSV

SBP

DependentVariable

Again, we are only interested in the Tests of Within-Subjects Effects. Of the four multivariate test results given, Wilks’ Lambda is preferred, which yields significance (p<.001) in this example.

Multivariatec,d

.985 3.882 4.000 16.000 .022

.043 13.342a 4.000 14.000 .00021.501 32.252 4.000 12.000 .00021.471 85.883b 2.000 8.000 .000

Pillai's TraceWilks' LambdaHotelling's TraceRoy's Largest Root

Within Subjects EffectPOSITION

Value F Hypothesis df Error df Sig.

Exact statistica.

The statistic is an upper bound on F that yields a lower bound on the significance level.b.

Design: Intercept Within Subjects Design: POSITION

c.

Tests are based on averaged variables.d.

Follow-up univariate ANOVAs are performed (i.e., Tests of Between Subjects Effects). The POSITION row shows us that SV is significant (p<.001), but SBP is not (p = .874). We are using the Sphericity Assumed values.

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Univariate Tests

288.400 2 144.200 77.250 .000288.400 1.042 276.675 77.250 .001288.400 1.086 265.568 77.250 .001288.400 1.000 288.400 77.250 .001

2.800 2 1.400 .137 .8742.800 1.220 2.295 .137 .7752.800 1.475 1.898 .137 .8152.800 1.000 2.800 .137 .730

14.933 8 1.86714.933 4.170 3.58214.933 4.344 3.43814.933 4.000 3.73381.867 8 10.23381.867 4.880 16.77481.867 5.900 13.87581.867 4.000 20.467

Sphericity AssumedGreenhouse-GeisserHuynh-FeldtLower-boundSphericity AssumedGreenhouse-GeisserHuynh-FeldtLower-boundSphericity AssumedGreenhouse-GeisserHuynh-FeldtLower-boundSphericity AssumedGreenhouse-GeisserHuynh-FeldtLower-bound

MeasureSV

SBP

SV

SBP

SourcePOSITION

Error(POSITION)

Type III Sumof Squares df Mean Square F Sig.

Since SV is significantly affected by body position, we have to determine which body positions differ significantly for SV. To do this, we will perform a paired t-test that compares the mean SV of each body position. Go back to the Data View, click on Analyze > Compare Means > Paired Samples T Test. Highlight each pair of variables that need to be compared (svu – svs, svu – svd, svs-svd). You should have three paired comparisons in the window under Paired Variables (see figure below). Click on OK. Remember to save your output data to a floppy disk.

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The t value and significance are provided in the Paired Samples Test table. Notice that you also have the means and standard deviations for SVs in each position in the first table (Paired Samples Statistics). To get the means and standard deviations for SBP, you can click Analyze > Descriptive Statistics > Descriptives. Move the SBP variables into the right window in the order in which you want them presented and click OK.

Paired Samples Test

-6.80 1.483 .663 -8.64 -4.96 -10.251 4 .001-3.80 1.304 .583 -5.42 -2.18 -6.517 4 .003

-10.60 2.702 1.208 -13.95 -7.25 -8.773 4 .001

SVU - SVSPair 1SVS - SVDPair 2SVU - SVDPair 3

MeanStd.

DeviationStd. Error

Mean Lower Upper

95% ConfidenceInterval of the

Difference

Paired Differences

t df Sig. (2-tailed)

Since we used each group twice in our comparisons, we have to perform a Bonferroni correction to control for a Type I error. To do this, we divide our original alpha value (.05) by the number of paired comparisons we made (3). Our new alpha value is .017 (.05 ÷ 3). The significance for each comparison is < .017, so we can report that SV differs significantly between upright and supine, upright and head down, and supine and

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head down positions. As in example 1, present the results in a table and include the mean ± one standard deviation, the t value and the significance for each dependent variable.

Table 2. Physiologic responses comparing upright, supine, and head down positions.

Physiological variables

Mean ± SDA

Mean ± SDB

Mean ± SDC

t value Significance

SV 69 ± 3A-BA-C

75 ± 3B-C

79 ± 3 -10.2516.517-8.773

.001*

.003*

.001*

SBP 115 ± 4 114 ± 3 115 ± 5 # #

*p<.05#t test not done since the multivariate analysis revealed no significanceA = uprightB = supineC = head down

We can report that we compared SV and SBP in three body positions (upright, supine, head down) using a multivariate repeated measures ANOVA. A significant effect was found (Lambda(4,14) = 13.34, p<.001). Follow-up univariate ANOVAs indicated that SBP was not significantly affected by body position (F(2,8) = .137, p = .874), but SV was (F(2,8) = 77.25, p<.001). Follow-up paired t tests revealed that SV significantly increased from upright to supine (t = -10.25, p = .001), supine to head down (t = 6.52, p = .003), and upright to head down positions (t = -8.77, p = .001).

Hopefully, these examples will enable you to use SPSS to analyze your data correctly. If you have any questions, check with the instructor before proceeding.

One more type of statistical analysis should be described just in case someone actually finds enough subjects to have two separate groups for the control and treatment (i.e., not repeated measures). In this case, the appropriate statistical analysis would be a MANOVA (multivariate ANOVA). The MANOVA does not involve repeated measures (different subjects in each group), but does incorporate multiple dependent variables.

MANOVALet’s repeat the tilt table experiment, but use 15 subjects, 5 in the upright position, 5 supine, and 5 head down. In order to perform a MANOVA in SPSS, we will have to rearrange our data somewhat. Use the Variable View to describe each dependent variable (e.g., sv, sbp). Also describe the independent variable (treatment) by naming it “position” and setting the decimal setting to 0. You now have 3 columns in the Data View. Arrange your data such that the first 5 cells (1-5) in the sv and sbp columns contain the SV and SBP values for the subjects in the upright position. Assign the number 0 to these five subjects in the position column. Put the supine data in the next 5

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cells (6-10) and the head down data in the last 5 cells (11-15). Assign the number 1 in the position column to the supine values (cells 6-10) and number 2 to the head down values (cells 11-15). The Data View should appear as follows:

To analyze the data, click on Analyze > General Linear Model > Multivariate. Highlight sv and sbp in the window on the left, click on the arrow (►) that will put sv and sbp into the dependent variables window on the right. Then highlight position and click on the arrow that will put it in the Fixed Factor(s) window on the right. Then click OK to run the analysis. We are interested in the Multivariate Tests results, specifically the section labeled POSITION. This will tell us whether position had any effect on any of our dependent variables.

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Multivariate Testsc

.999 7411.798a 2.000 11.000 .000

.001 7411.798a 2.000 11.000 .0001347.600 7411.798a 2.000 11.000 .0001347.600 7411.798a 2.000 11.000 .000

.763 3.702 4.000 24.000 .017

.245 5.609a 4.000 22.000 .0033.046 7.616 4.000 20.000 .0013.035 18.212b 2.000 12.000 .000

Pillai's TraceWilks' LambdaHotelling's TraceRoy's Largest RootPillai's TraceWilks' LambdaHotelling's TraceRoy's Largest Root

EffectIntercept

POSITION

Value F Hypothesis df Error df Sig.

Exact statistica.

The statistic is an upper bound on F that yields a lower bound on the significance level.b.

Design: Intercept+POSITIONc.

Again Wilks’ Lambda test will be used. Since we have significance (p<.05), follow-up univariate ANOVAs are performed (i.e., Tests of Between Subjects Effects). The POSITION row shows us that SV is significant (p<.001), but SBP is not (p = .927).

Tests of Between-Subjects Effects

288.400a 2 144.200 16.767 .0002.800b 2 1.400 .076 .927

83030.400 1 83030.400 9654.698 .000196997.400 1 196997.400 10706.38 .000

288.400 2 144.200 16.767 .0002.800 2 1.400 .076 .927

103.200 12 8.600220.800 12 18.400

83422.000 15197221.000 15

391.600 14223.600 14

Dependent VariableSVSBPSVSBPSVSBPSVSBPSVSBPSVSBP

SourceCorrected Model

Intercept

POSITION

Error

Total

Corrected Total

Type III Sumof Squares df Mean Square F Sig.

R Squared = .736 (Adjusted R Squared = .693)a.

R Squared = .013 (Adjusted R Squared = -.152)b.

We can report that we performed a one-way MANOVA to evaluate the effect of body position on SV and SBP. A significant effect was found (Lambda(4,22) = 5.61, p<.05). Follow-up univariate ANOVAs indicated that SBP was not significantly affected by body position (F(2,12) = .076, p = .927), but SV was (F(2,12) = 16.77, p<.001). As in the repeated measures example in which SV was significant, we have to determine which body positions differ significantly for SV. Perform a paired t-test that compares the mean SV of each body position as previously described and report the results in the same fashion.

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