Parse error: syntax error, unexpected 'echo' (T_ECHO)

Question

I received the following error:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected 'echo' (T_ECHO) in /functions/contact.php on line 14

For the following code:

  // Responses provided
      $stage1a = echo "<script>
      $(function(){
        $(this).data().stage1a;
      });
      </script>";

Essentially it is suppose to echo the data stored in a previous jquery file:

optionScope.data().stage1a = ["idea generation", "mindset", "psychology"]; 

where optionScope equals to the scope element of the .ready() function .