Posts filed under '0. SPSS, where to start'
The most easy way to present data in a cross table is to use the table function in SPSS. To do this first go to analyze>tables>basic tables. This opens the following screen.
Now we drag the question “what is your sex?” into down and “SPSS lessons” into across. By clicking statistics we will get the following screen.
To get the amount and the row percentage into the crosstable, we drag “row%” and “count” into the right box. Now we click continue.
By clicking ok you will get the following cross table:
Tip: If you want a total percentage or amount in your table, just click on “total” at the basic tables screen, and choose the option “totals over each group variables”.
May 27th, 2006
mark
The most easy way to present data is to create a table. There are different ways in SPSS to create a table. We will describe the most common way of creating table.
The most common way of creating a table is with the descriptive statistics function. To do this first go to analyze>descriptive statistics>frequencies. This opens the following screen:
Now we drag the question “what is your sex?” into the variables. By clicking ok you will get the following tables:
The first table shows how many valid cases there are and how many there are missing.
The second table shows:
- The 1st column: This shows the value names and the total.
- The 2nd column: This show the frequency of the values.
- The 3rd column: This shows the percentage of the values including the missing cases.
- The 4th column: This shows the percentage of the values excluding the missing cases.
- The 5th column: This shows the cumulative percentage; this can be important information.
May 21st, 2006
mark
This example is based on a market research project. In this project a questionnaire went out and we got a lot of data back from our respondents. To have a guideline when filling in your data, using a codebook is very handy. In fact, it is essential if someone else is filling in data for you. Below you can find an explanation on how to make this codebook.
1. Make a copy of your questionnaire document, and name it e.g. codebook.doc (a little obvious, I know).
2. Change the question numbers into variable names. The most logical thing to do is to give question 1 the variable name q1, question 2 the variable name q2, etc.
May 10th, 2006
andris
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
May 3rd, 2006
andris
In a lot of research, multiple answers can be given to a single question. For example:
“What kind of food do you like?”
o soup
o rice
o salad
How do you analyse this type of question? Let’s assume you want to make a table with the answers. How do you combine them? Even though it may seem like the most easy thing to do, this is pretty difficult stuff. SPSS is good at analyzing unique combinations of variables (answers to questions) combined with unique cases (people in a survey). The combination of more than one answer per person, does not fit into that logic. So we have to be a little creative.
This is a preview of How to handle multiple response questions
. Read the full post (655 words, estimated 2:37 mins reading time)
May 2nd, 2006
mark
We write this post assuming that you have already defined your variables, and that you have not already entered data in another program. If you have, please refer to the post about importing data into SPSS.
Open your SPSS file, and make sure that the tab selected in the bottom is the “Data View” tab. In this view, the rows represent the observations (or respondents, cases) and the columns represent your variables.
May 1st, 2006
andris
Start SPSS, and create a new data file (Choose Type in data in the first dialog window). You now see a file that looks like a Microsoft Excel file. In the bottom of your screen, you see two tabs. We see that the tab “Data View” is selected. This is the place to type in your data. Before we take that step, we have to define our variables. Next to the tab “Data View” we see the tab “Variable View“, click on that tab. When you have clicked this tab, you get the following screen:
(click on thumbnail to get the big version)
April 29th, 2006
andris
Today Giuseppe from Italy sent us the following question:
“How can i translate spss into the italian language?”
SPSS is available in several different languages, namely English, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Polish, Korean, and Russian. The website of SPSS says you should “contact your local office to find out version information and more”. Visit the SPSS website to find a list of local offices. And Guiseppe, especially for you, the SPSS website in Italian. 
If you have any more questions about SPSS, please submit your question!
Permanent link to this post (89 words, estimated 21 secs reading time)
April 29th, 2006
andris
