SPSS Tutorial

Last revised 10/8/07, 3:00pm

SPSS Tutorial

Part A: Introduction

SPSS (Statistics Package for the Social Sciences) is a software package used for conducting statistical analyses, manipulating data, and generating tables and graphs that summarize data. Statistical analyses include basic descriptive statistics, such as averages and frequencies, to advanced inferential statistics, such as regression, analysis of variance, and factor analysis.

SPSS for Windows consists of five different windows, each of which is associated with a particular SPSS file type. We will examine two of these windows: the Data Editor and the Output Viewer.

The Data Editor window displays the contents of the working dataset. It is arranged in a spreadsheet format that contains variables in columns and cases in rows. Notice how there are two tabs at the bottom of the window: Data View, and Variable View.

The Data View tab let’s you examine the data, much like it appears in an Excel spreadsheet. The Variable View tab allows you to examine information about the dataset that is stored with the dataset.

The Output Window shows the results of requested statistical analyses or graphs. The items in the Output Window can be exported to a Word file to submit for activities.

Part B: Starting Up SPSS

To start up SPSS:

Select Start >> Courseware Applications >> Statistical Applications >> SPSS for Windows >> SPSS 15.0 for Windows. SPSS might take up to one minute to load.
Close the SPSS 15.0 for Windows dialog that asks you what you would like to do.

This puts you in a SPSS Data Editor Window. To rename the dataset:

Select the main menu entry File >> Rename Dataset.
Enter the new dataset name, say Persons1, for the Dataset Name in the Rename Dataset dialog.

You should see Untitled1 [Persons1] ... in the title bar of the Data Editor Window.

Part C: Entering a New Dataset by Manually

To enter a new dataset manually:

Select the Variable View Tab at the bottom of the Data Editor Window.
For each variable in your new dataset specify its characteristics:
- Enter the variable name in the Name column.
- Enter the type (Numeric or String) in the Type column.
- Set the maximum width in characters or digits if you wish in the Width column.
- For any Numeric variables, specify how many digits after the decimal point you wish to display in the Decimals Column.
- Optional: supply a descriptive label for the variable. For example, the variable Height might have the label "Height in Meters".
- Also specify the Measure for each variable. The choices are Nominal (Categorical), Ordinal and Scale (Continuous).

Part D: Importing an Excel Dataset

To import an Excel dataset:

In the main menu, select Open >> Data. In the Open Data dialog, select Excel (*.xls) in the Files of Type drop down box.
Select the Excel file to import from the hard drive.
In the Opening Excel Data Source window, select the worksheet that you want to import, whether the first row contains the variable name.

The data can be edited using the data editor after it has been imported.

Part E: Creating a New Variable Calculated from Existing Variables

To create a new variable calculated from existing variables:

Select main menu Transform >> Compute Variable.
Enter the name of the new variable to be calculated in the Target Variable textbox.
Enter the expression for calculating the new variable in the Numeric Expression textbox. The expression should contain only operators, numbers and previously defined variables.
Click the OK button.

The newly computed variable will appear as a new column in the Data Editor.

Part F: Sorting a Dataset

To sort the rows of a dataset by a column of columns:

In the main menu, select Data >> Sort Cases.
Move the variable or variables by which you want to sort into the Sort by Box. Click OK.

The rows in the dataset will now be sorted.

Part G: Computing Descriptive Statistics

To compute descriptive statistics such as the mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum:

Go to the Data Editor Window.
In the main menu, select Analyze >> Descriptive Statistics >> Descriptives.
In the Descriptives dialog, move all the variables for which you want descriptive statistics from the left to the variables box.
Click on the Options button and select, in the Descriptives: Options dialog, all the descriptive statistics that you want shown in the output. Click Continue. The values of the descriptive statistics will be shown in the Output Window.

Part H: Obtaining Quartiles and Plots

To obtain quartiles (Q0, Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5):

Go to the Data Editor Window.
In the main menu, select Analyze >> Descriptive Statistics >> Explore.
In the Explore dialog, move all the variables that you want to analyze to the Dependent List box.
Click on the Statistics button. In the Explore: Statistics dialog, check only the boxes Outliers and Percentiles. Click Continue.
Click on the Plots button. In the Explore: Plots dialog, check the radio button Dependents together. Also, check the Stem-and-leaf and Histogram check boxes. Click Continue.
Click the OK button.

The requested analyses and plots will appear in the output window.

Part I: Creating a Histogram

To create a histogram:

In the main menu of the Data Editor Window, select Graphs >> Interactive >> Histogram.
In the Create Histogram dialog, move the variable for which you want to create the histogram into the box marked by the horizontal arrow. (The box marked by the vertical arrow should contain the variable Count($count)).
Set any other options you want to set on the Histogram, Titles or Options tabs. Click OK on the Create Histogram dialog. Note, only scale variables can be used for the horizontal variable of a histogram. If necessary, go to the Variable view in the Data Editor and change the Measure of the variable on the right to scale.

Note: A histogram can also be created as follows: Main menu Analyze >> Descriptives >> Explore. Click the Plots button and check Histogram.

Part J: Creating a Crosstabs Table

To create a crosstabs table:

In the main menu of the Data Editor Window, select Analyze >> Descriptive Statistics >> Crosstabs.
In the Crosstabs dialog, move the variables that you want to use for Rows and for Columns into the corresponding box. Click OK.

The crosstabs table will appear in the Output Window.

Part K: Computing Correlations of Variables

To compute the pairwise correlations of a set of variables:

Select main menu Analyze >> Correlate >> Bivariate.
In the Bivarate Correlations dialog, move all variables for which you want correlations into the Variables box. Leave the Pearson, Two-tailed, and Flag significant correlations boxes checked. Click OK.

A matrix will appear in the Output Window that shows the correlation for each pair of variables. Significant correlations will be marked with **.

Part L: Creating a Scatterplot with Linear Trend Line

To create a scatterplot with a superimposed linear trend line:

Select main menu Analyze >> Analyze >> Regression >> Curve Estimation.
In the Curve Estimation dialog, make sure that the Variable radio button is checked and drag the independent variable into the Independent Box. Drag the dependent variable into the Dependent(s) box. Make sure that the Linear checkbox is checked in the Models area. Click the OK button.

A scatterplot with the linear trend line superimposed should appear in the Output Window.