SPSS is a statistical software package used for data management and analysis. It allows users to enter and manipulate data, conduct a wide range of statistical analyses, and generate graphs. SPSS files come in three types: .SAV files contain the data, .SPO files contain output, and .SPS files contain syntax. The data editor interface allows users to view, enter, edit, and sort data. It also enables data manipulation through functions like computing new variables and recoding existing ones. SPSS can be used to produce basic descriptive statistics, frequencies, cross-tabulations, and more advanced analyses like correlations, t-tests, regression and ANOVA. Syntax files allow users to save and re-run analyses.

1. Overview: SPSS
Rebecca Filipowicz, MPH, MS, CHES

2. Statistical Packages
 Data Entry
 Data Manipulation
 Data Analysis (Descriptive,Inferential)
 Graphs

3. 3 SPSS File Types/Windows
 .SAV – data file/Data Editor
 .SPO – output file/Output Viewer
 .SPS – syntax file/Syntax Editor

4. Opening a Dataset
Data can be entered directly or a file containing
data can be open (can be in a variety of
formats)
Data View (contains the data)
Variable View (contains information about the
variables)

5. Data Editor
 Menu commands
 File: open, reads, saves, exits
 Edit: copy, paste, find
 View: control the way screen appears
 Data: define, go to data, sort cases, merge
file, select cases
 Transform: manipulates data (compute and
recode)

6. Data Editor
 Menu Commands
 Analyze: data analysis
 Graphs: create graphs
 Utilities: list variables
 Window: position and format windows
 Help: Tutorial, index

7. Creating a new variable
 Name
 Type
 Width
 Decimals
 Label
 Values (used in
output display)
 Missing values
(used mostly for
NA or refused -
will not include in
analysis if
designated)
 Column format
 Alignment
 Measurement

8. Variable Type
 Numeric
 Comma
 Dot
 Scientific notation
 Date
 Dollar
 Custom Currency
 String

9. Labels
 The text that describes the response
categories
1=American Indian
2=Asian
3=Black
4=Hispanic
5=Native Hawaiian
6=White

10. Create Sample Survey
 Entering data
 Click in the cell
 Type in the response code
 Press right arrow
 Missing
 Skip the question
 Press right arrow to go to the next variable

11. Editing and Finding Data
 Review case’s responses
 Make a change to case’s responses
 Searching for cases that meet a certain
criteria
 Finding Variables: Go To
 Finding Cases: Go To
 Sorting variables/cases

12. Opening data
 A lot of formats you can import from and
export to (will do some of this in the closing
on campus session)

13. Working with Data
 Know your questions
 Know your codebook
 Question
 Name of variable
 Level of measurement
 Response type (numeric, date, text, etc.)
 Response categories
 Text labels

14. Analyze Data
 Basic
 Descriptive Statistics
 Frequencies
 Descriptives (mean)
 Cross tabs
 Reports
 Case summaries

15. Outputs
 Output Viewer
 Left frame – outline of objects in window
 Contains syntax at top of figure
 Figures, Titles, Dataset, Notes
 Deleting
 Editing
 Exporting

16. Other Analyses
 Correlations
 T-test
 Logistic and linear regression
 ANOVA and MANOVA and MANCOVA

17. Selecting Cases
 If condition satisfies
 New data set
 Filter only

18. Data manipulation
 Creating Variables
 Compute
 New variable
 Recode
 Old variables to new/same variables

19. Syntax
 Used for saving a log of what you have done
to to re-run what you have done at a later
date.
 Can type directly into syntax file (must know
language) or can paste from commands