Importing data from an ASCII file

First refer to Importing data into SPSS. If you have read it, than you can continue below.
Typically, columns of data in an ASCII file are separated by a space, tab, comma, or some other character. SPSS has a Text Import Wizard that will help you import data in an ASCII file format:

1. Select File -> Open -> Data
2. Choose Text as the File Type if your ASCII file has the .txt extension. Otherwise you could choose the option All files
3. Select the file you want to import and click Open

3 comments May 3rd, 2006 andris

Import data from an Excel file

First refer to Importing data into SPSS. If you have read it, than you can continue below.
Before you start the actual import process, please keep in mind that the Excel file should not be opened in Excel.

1. Select File -> Open -> Data
2. Choose Excel as the File Type
3. Select the file you want to import and click Open

 

5 comments May 3rd, 2006 andris

Nominal, ordinal and scale

Today Erik from the Netherlands sent us the following question:

What is the diffrence between nominal, ordinal and scale?

In SPSS you can specify the level of measurement as scale (numeric data on an interval or ratio scale), ordinal, or nominal. Nominal and ordinal data can be either string alphanumeric) or numeric.But what is the difference?

Nominal.
A variable can be treated as nominal when its values represent categories with no intrinsic ranking; for example, the department of the company in which an employee works. Examples of nominal variables include region, zip code, or religious affiliation.A variable can be treated as nominal when its values represent categories with no intrinsic ranking; for example, the department of the company in which an employee works. Examples of nominal variables include region, zip code, or religious affiliation.

8 comments May 3rd, 2006 mark

Import data from a tab delimited text file

First refer to Importing data into SPSS. If you have read it, than you can continue below.

1. Select File -> Open -> Data
2. Choose Text as the File Type
3. Select the file you want to import and click Open

4. The next thing that will pop up is the Import text wizard. First click Next if your file does not match a predefined format. It probably doesn’t, so click Next. :) 

5. In step 2, you can set the first question to Delimited. In the second question you choose wether you have a header row or not (are variables names included in the top of the file). After setting the options right, choose Next.

2 comments May 3rd, 2006 andris

Importing data into SPSS

Importing some data

If you have a small amount of data you want to get into SPSS, the most easy way is to simply Copy Paste it into SPSS. Be aware to check if everything ends up in the right cell, and if  you really have all the data you need. The most safe way to get this data into SPSS, would be to import it. Especially if you have a lot of data.

Importing a lot of data

5 comments May 3rd, 2006 andris