SPSS is a computer statistical program designed for statistical analysis, text analytics, and data mining. Developed by IBM Corporation, it is very popular with academic researchers and individuals that have to analyze a lot of statistics. Learning how to use SPSS will take some time, as it is a very powerful program. However, the guide below will give you an idea of how it works.
After installing the program, import the data you want to edit, such as a CSV or Excel file. Simply click “Open Another Type of File” and select the file. If you want to put in new data, choose “Type in Data”. Click OK when you have selected a data source.
SPSS has two views where you can edit data: Variable and Data view. At the variable view, categories can be edited as well as the variable’s name and other information.
The next step is to choose a stats test; after entering your data, you can format it. Click the Analyze button to choose one of the statistical tests available. Make sure that your syntax is in place before you do any statistical tests. The syntax is pasted into another file.
After running your statistical tests, you’ll be able to see the output from another window.
How to Combine Variables
Click File and Open, and choose the file you want to open.
After clicking Data View, your data will be shown.
Click Transform and choose “Compute” from the menu. Enter the variable’s name below “Target Variable”. When studying how to use SPSS, remember that this is the name for the variables you’ll be combining.
Under “Type&Label”, you’ll see all your variables. Click your first variable and add it. The variable will be placed in “Numeric Expression.”
After clicking the plus sign, it will be set next to the “Numeric
Look for the next variable on the list and follow the steps above.
Once all your variables are added, click OK and the new total is going to show up in the variables’ right side.
Click Transform and choose Computer. Type a name for your variable at “Target Variable”.
Follow the steps described above to add variables, but instead of clicking the plus sign, click the multiply sign.
Click the names of the variables you want to multiply; click OK when you are done.
Calculating Normalized Data
Click File and then Open.
Open the dialogue box “Descriptives” and Choose “analyze”. Select “Descriptive Statistics” and then “Summarize.” From the drop down box that appears, choose “Descriptives”.
To get the mean and standard deviation (the square of the variance): choose the variable with the data that has to be normalized. Choose Options and select “Mean and Std. Deviation”. After clicking “Continue” choose OK.
Click “Transform” and choose “Compute”. In the “Target Variable” box type “normalize”. Under “Numerical Expression,” type: “(data name, “-“, the mean, “)”, “/” and the standard deviation. Click OK.
These guidelines on how to use SPSS are only examples; it has many other features that allow you to perform other mathematical and statistical functions. The program is updated frequently, so its features can and do change often.
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