SPSS for Windows

version currently on StatLab computers: 11.5

In the Windows version of SPSS, most of the features are accessible through menus (Click here toview the SPSS program window). You can also use the SPSS command language, which is basically the same for UNIX and Windows.

First time users: A tutorial is available. Click on Help > SPSS Tutorial in the Main Menu of SPSS. There is also a Statlab Workshop of useful information for beginners.

To Start SPSS

Double-click on the SPSS Icon  in the Local Applications Window.

To run SPSS in batch mode

Give your SPSS program file the extension ".sps" . In the File Manager double-click this file.

To Exit SPSS

Click at File > Exit

Loading Data

Use the spreadsheet like DATA Window to enter raw data manually.

Click on File > Read ASCII Data to load external raw data file. Enter variable names and types.

Click on File > Open > Data to load external SPSS system file.

See SSDA Help on using SPSS for further information on reading in data files.

Analyzing Data

There are two ways to tell SPSS how you want your data being analyzed:

1. Select a statistical procedure from the Stastics menu
2. Open a Syntax Window and use the SPSS command language.:

• Click on File > New > SPSS Syntax to open a Syntax Window, type in commands.
• Click on File > File > SPSS Syntax to load an external SPSS batch file.

To submit commands in a Syntax Window, click on the Submit Button  on the Icon Bar. Every selection you do in the menus is translated into SPSS command language. You can paste these commands into a Syntax Window by using the Paste Button.

Creating Graphs

Click on Graphs to create a graph/chart of your data. Select graph type and enter the variables you would like to graph. The window you open is called "Chart Carousel".

Click on Edit in Chart Carousel to open the Chart window. You can add titles, legends, etc.

Saving or Printing Data, Output or Graphs

Click on File > Save to save work in active window.

Click on File > Print to print contents of active window or click on Print Button  on the Icon Bar.

Saving paper, Editing print output

Results of analysis in SPSS 8.0 will bring up an SPSS OUTPUT VIEWER window. The left box shows an outline of the output, including titles, notes, and statistics. There are several options for printing from SPSS that consolidate output and save paper.  The following are available from the SPSS OUTPUT VIEWER window. These options may be combined to consolidate output even further.

• Select the section(s) you want to print from the outline box:



A single click suffices for one section.
If several sections need to be printed out, click on the appropriate sections while holding down the CTRL key.
Once selection has been made, click on File > Print > Selection

• Delete sections you do not need to print:

Select section(s) from the outline box and use the DELETE key to discard them.
Click on File > Print > All visible output
Tip: sections for titles, notes, and warnings should be deleted if you do not need these records

• If presentation style is not an issue, you can change the text output page size, which will print output without any page breaks.

Click on Edit > Options, and then the Viewer tab.
Click on infinite in the text output page size box.
Click on OK to save options
Click on File > Print > All visible output
 

• Clear page breaks and add them wherever you prefer:

Click on Insert > Clear Page Break to clear current page breaks.
To add page breaks at certain sections, click on the section where you want the new page to start, either from the outline box or from the text output on the right.
Click Insert > Page Break
Click on File > Print > All visible output
 

• TIP: File > Print > Preview the output to decide on modifications and options for printing.

SPSS, Inc. Homepage

©2007 Yale University Social Science Statistical Laboratory Certifying Authority: Themba Flowers lm: Fri Apr 11 11:26:35 EDT 2003