SPSS, part 1: Define the variables

Define the variables – indicate the type of data, and whether the values represent something more than numbers.

  • Data view = actual data: scores, ratings, gender …
    • variables in columns (participants are across rows, variable is each column
  • Variable view = shows info about variables: names, types …
    • no spaces or punctuation in variable names
    • variables in rows (each variable is a row)
    • numeric variable:
      • width = number of digits (eg 3)
      • decimals = number of decimal places (eg 0)
    • SNO = subject number
    • … = opens further window for more options
    • Labels = as long as you want, with spaces and punctuation (purely for your own reference)
    • Values = labelling value
      • purely numeric = no label
      • eg Gender = need to label: 1=Male, 2=Female and width = 1

Recoding variables: eg want to reverse scale: make 1=happy into 1=unhappy

  • Transform -> Recode into Different Variables
  • Move variable into box on right
  • Rename
  • Re-label -> click “Change”
  • Old and new values -> change 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 3 to 3 …

Computing variables: eg want to add scores of two variables together to make a completely new variable

  • Transform -> Compute Variable
  • Move variable 1 into slot on right, click +, move variable 2
  • Name new variable in “Target Variable” box
  • Type + Label -> label new variable

Listing data: eg want only to see data of 3 variables and top 10 participants

  • Analyze -> Reports -> Case Summaries
  • Move variables into box on right
  • Tick “Display cases”
  • Tick “Limit cases to first” -> write “10”
  • To save output: save to same name as spreadsheet

Split file (to order data by groups): eg if you want to obtain separate descriptives for each gender

  • Data -> Split File
  • Tick “Organize output by groups”
  • Move variable to box on right
  • To switch off: Tick “Analyse all cases, do not create groups”