On our first day using the SPSS software LTC Sanborn described the product as the Toyota Camry of Statistical Analysis. In most ways I have come to agree with that. The process to purchase and download the software was at times frustrating and long but not overly difficult, much like a trip to a car dealership. Once up and running the software isn’t flashy but surprisingly reliable and user friendly. The accompanying workbook, “An IBM SPSS companion to Political Analysis” by Phillip Pollock III provides uncomplicated, easy to follow instructions to complete basic but practical statistical analysis. I have found the work book quite helpful when I have been stuck on problems but for the most part the I have found the software itself efficiently set up to the point where I could, if needed, search through the menu and figure out how to run my tests independent of the workbook.

With the reality of difficulties in defining, let alone testing, the concepts in our original question setting in, our group decided to change course almost entirely and propose a new question. During one of our initial brain storming sessions Cadet Elliott offered an alternative question, “what is the relationship between Cadet disposable income levels and the amount of alcohol that they consume.” This struck my attention immediately. It appeared to be interesting, definable, and testable in the context of this class. After my initial meeting on the subject with LTC Sanborn, however, I began to agree that it was perhaps too narrow of a concept. We began to discuss the idea that perhaps whether a cadet is commissioning or not impacts if they spend more money on alcohol. This research question, while more explanatory still had several limiting factors, first it was only dichotomous in its source of money, commissioning or non commissioning. This is severely limiting as there are numerous ways for non-commissioning cadets to gain disposable income, (i.e. Part time job, allowance from parents, etc.) Second, it was perhaps testing something different than what its intention was. If tested as originally stated it would simply answer whether or not having more money allows a cadet to purchase more alcohol an obvious correlation already exists without a test, instead there need to be a better test perhaps as a percentage of income. Finally, the testing of just alcohol was severely limiting, there are many people who don’t consume alcohol for reasons other than lack of funds. In addition, the legal drinking age of 21 limits the testable group to predominantly first class cadets.