What is the first step in conducting Spearman's rho analysis?

• A. Identify the dependent variable.
• B. Calculate the mean of the scores.
• C. Rank the scores starting from the lowest.
• D. Plot the data on a graph.

Answer: (C)

The first step in conducting Spearman's rho analysis is to rank the scores starting from the lowest. Spearman's rho is a non-parametric measure of correlation that assesses how well the relationship between two variables can be described using a monotonic function. Before calculating the correlation, the raw scores of each variable need to be ranked. This ranking transforms the data into ordinal scale rankings, which is essential for Spearman's rho, as it does not assume a normal distribution and is based on the relative ranks rather than the actual values.

Calculating the mean of the scores, identifying the dependent variable, or plotting the data on a graph are important steps in statistical analysis, but they do not specifically pertain to initiating the process for Spearman's rho. Ranking the scores is foundational because it directly facilitates the calculation of the correlation coefficient once the ranks are established.