SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

Analysing quantitative data using SPSS 17 forWindows

1) INTRODUCTION
1.1) Aims

Toillustratecomputationalanalysisofdata.

Tointroducethebasicsofquantitativedataanalysis.

To provide familiarisation with the SPSS for Windows package so that users can
begintoassessitssuitabilityfortheirownanalysis.

1.2) Aboutthese notes

Duringtheclass, workyourwaythroughexercises1to16, excludingExercise3,

following the instructions as requested. The symbol usually means you
shouldundertakesomeworkawayfromthecomputerorcheckthatyouhave
already undertaken some tasks on the computer. The symbol
usually
means that you should issue a command or series of commands to the
computer this usually means pointing and clicking with the mouse's left
button.

Exercises17and18aredesignedtohelpyoutoanalyseyourowndatainSPSS1
forWindows.2

Duringtheclassifyougetstuckaskforhelp.

Note: thesenotesassumetheuserisfamiliarwithaWindowspackagesuchas

WordforWindowsorExcel.3

SPSSisaregisteredtrademarkofSPSSInc.

WindowsisaregisteredtrademarkofMicrosoftInc.

WordandExcelareregisteredtrademarks ofMicrosoftInc.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

2) BACKGROUND
2.1) SPSSforWindows
SPSS for Windows is a powerful computer package providing statistical analyses
and data management. The SPSS suite of programs is the most widely used
statisticalanalysispackageintheworld.

2.2) Data types

Before data are analysed in SPSSitisnecessarytounderstandwhattypeofdata
youareworkingwith, asthiswillaffecttheanalysisused.

Categorical: categorical data consist of values which cannot be expressed

numericallybutcanbegroupedintocategories;forexamplegenderwhichcan
begroupedintomaleandfemale.

Quantifiable: quantifiable data consist of values that can be expressed

numericallyasquantities;forexampleyearofbirth.

Quantifiabledatacanfurtherbesubdividedintotwogroups:

Discrete, where individual items of numeric data can have one of a finite
numberofvalueswithinaspecifiedrange;suchasspinalcolumnpointforthe
variable salary scale. The value can usually be counted and it changes in
discrete units, in this case whole numbers. In some instances discrete data
mayberankdata,forexampletheorderagroupofpeoplefinishedinarace.

Continuous, where numeric data are not restricted to specific valuesandare

usuallymeasured on a continuousscale;suchasjourneytoworkdistance(in
km).
0km

Journeytoworkdistancealonghere

120km

With such data it is possible to tell the interval between the data values for
differentcases;forexampletheintervalbetweenajourneytoworkof15miles
andanotherof22milesis7miles. NB Observedvaluesofacontinuousvariable
always appear discrete due to limitations of the equipment used for
measurement(e.g.acarodometer).
One potentially confusing aspect of SPSS is that all data are usually coded
numerically (e.g. 1 = male). Although it appears less meaningful to code such
responses numerically, it is better from a data manipulation point of view since
SPSSallowsonlyautomaticrecodingoncodeswhicharenumeric.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

2.3) TheTEACH.SAV data file

This data file consists of data about 347 people recruited to work for a UK local
authority over a tenyear period from the mid 1970s to mid 1980s and weas
obtainedfrompersonnelrecords. Thedatacollectionformisincludedas Appendix
2.
The vast majority of data relates to the time of their appointment and is taken
from a range of secondary data sources such as their application form and the
requisition orders to various meoutlets for vacancy advertisements. The data
referspredominantlytononmanualemployees,althoughthereareafewmanual
employees.Thedatahavebeenanonymisedinavarietyofwaysandalllocational
datahasbeenamendedtopreserveconfidentiality.Permissionwasobtainedfrom
the local authority to use these data in suitably anonymised format for teaching
purposes.
The data file can best be thought of as a large spreadsheet with each column
representing a variable for which data are available and each row representing
thatdataforanindividualorcase:
gender

born

marital

educate

profmemb

67

19

24

Thus, for the table above, row 1 represents a person who has gender code 2
(female),wasbornin1967,hasmaritalstatuscode1(single),waseducatedupto
code 5 (O level/GCSE grade C or above), and professional membership code 3
(none).Thedatathencontinuetotherightforfurthervariables.Thesymbol"."is
theSPSSsymbolformissingdata,thisisdiscussedinmoredetailinHelp17.4.Afull
listofvariablesandtheircodesisgiveninAppendix1.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

3) USING SPSS FOR WINDOWS

Exercise1:To loadSPSS

SPSSforWindowsfollowstheconventionsusedinotherWindowsapplications,making
use of a variety of menus and dialogue boxes. This means you rarely have to use the
keyboardotherthanforenteringdata,or fornamingspecificvariables.
Powerupyourmachine(switchiton!)andyournormalscreenwillappear.
After clicking the
button, SPSS will be located somewhere in the
Programsoptionasshownbelow:

Click
toopenSPSS.Thiswill
takesometimesobepatient! Youwillseethis
screen.
Whenyoudo,click
atthebottomof
thedialogueboxtoremoveit.
YoushouldnowhaveanUntitledSPSSDataEditor
screen.
EndofExercise1

3.1) TheSPSSWindows
WhenyouloadandruntheSPSSpackageitopensupamenubarandtwoviews.
Theseare DataView (currentlyvisible)and VariableView
This sheet will
contain your data, each
column representing a
variable for which data are
available and each row
representing the data for
an individual or case. At
present this sheet should
be blank. As this sheet is
currently selected,itsname
onthetabatthebottomis
inbold.
Atpresentthissheetisnotvisibleasthevariableviewsheetisnotactive.
Consequently,thenameisnotinbold.Donotbothertoclickonthetabandlookatthis
sheetyet,wewilldothat later.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

MenuBar:Thisprovidesaselectionofoptions(File,Edit,View,Data )whichallowyou,

for example, to open files, edit data, generate graphs, create tables and perform
statistical analyses. Selecting from this menu bar will, like in other Windowspackages,
providefurtherpulldownmenusanddialogueboxes.
Themenubaroptionsareusedasfollows:

File isusedtoaccessanyfileswhetheryouwantto Open anexistingSPSSfileorread

data from another application such as Excel or dBase, or start a New file. Itisalso
themenuoptionyouchooseto Save files.

Edit canbeusedtoalterdataortextintheDataViewortheVariableView.

View canbeusedtoalterthewayyourscreenlooks.Pleaseleavethisonthedefault

settings.

Data isusedto definevariablesandmakechangestothedatafileyouareusing.

Transform is used to make changes to selected variable(s) in the data file you are
using. This can include recode(ing) existing variables and compute(ing) new

variables.

Analyze is used to undertake a variety of analyses such as producing Reports,

calculating DescriptiveStatistics suchas Frequencies and Crosstabs (crosstabulations)

and associated summarystatistics,aswellasvariousstatisticalproceduressuchas

Regression and Correlation.

Graphs is used to create a variety of graphs and charts such as Bar, Line and Pie

charts.

Utilities is for more general housekeeping such as changing display options and

fonts,displayinginformationonvariables.

Window operatesinthesamewayasotherWindowspackages.

Help is a contextsensitive help feature which operates the same way as other

Windowspackages.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

Exercise2:To loada previously createdSPSSforWindows data file

AllversionsofSPSSforWindows
will work with data files using a
filename of up to eight
charactersandthefileextension
.SAV,forexample TEACH.SAV.
For the most recent versions
longer filenames can be used,
butitisbettertobesafe!
Makesureyouhaveloaded
SPSS(seeExercise1).

IntheMenuBarclick File|Open|Data.The OpenFile dialogueboxappears.Notice

thatSPSSlooksfordatafilesinthemostrecentlyusedsubdirectory. Forexample,
ifyouaregoingtoloadafilewhichisonaUSBportablestoragedeviceyouneed
locatethe appropriate drive.
Locatethe TEACH.SAV file.
Openthe TEACH.SAV bydoubleclickingonit.
YouwillnowseethedataappearintheDataViewwindowandthefilenameabovethe
menubarchangeto TEACH.SAV.Thismaytakesometimesobepatient!

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

Alternatively, you can download the file TEACH.SAV from the web by following the
tutorial and datasets link: http://wps.pearsoned.co.uk/saunders (for the 5th Edn) and
thensaveitonyourUSBportablestoragedevice.
EndofExercise2
Exercise3:To loadanExcel spreadsheet data file
Do not undertake this exercise until you need to load your own data from an Excel
spreadsheet.
Make sure that your Excel spreadsheet file is set out with one column per variable and
one row for each individual (survey form). Note: the first row should be the variable
names.ThisisillustratedfortheExcelequivalentofanextractfromtheteach.savdatafile
below:

gender

born

marital

67

19

24

educate

1
2

profmemb

MakesureyouhaveloadedSPSS(seeExercise1).
IntheMenuBar,click File|Open|Data.The OpenFile dialogueboxappears. Notice
that SPSS looks for data files in the most recentlyused subdirectory. As you are
going to load an Excel file from a USB portablemassstoragedeviceyouneedto
insertthisfirst.
Insertyour USBportablemassstoragedevice andclick6inthe Lookin: box.
Clickon theappropriateremovabledisk,forexample:

Click6intheFilesoftype: boxandusethescrollarrowsontherightofthedialogue
boxtofindExcel.
Click Excel (*.xls). You will see your Excel files displayed in the Open File dialogue
box.
Select the filename you want by clicking
on it and then click on the Open button.
The Opening Excel Data Source dialog box
appears.
Makesurethereisa totheleftofRead
variable names and click OK. You will see
the file appear in the Data View and the
filename above the menu bar change.
Thiswilltakesometimesobepatient!
EndofExercise3

BecauseyouareloadingthefilefromExcelyouwillstillneedtoaddvariablelabelsand
valuelabelswithinSPSSandsaveyourdataasanSPSSdatafile(*.sav).
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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

Exercise4:To check how variableshavebeen coded

Tocheckwhatthecolumnheadingforeachvariableandthecodesreferto:
Click

sheetatthebottomofthescreen.Youwillnowsee:

Thefirstcolumncontainsthevariable Name,inthecaseofthefirstrowgender.Thisis
thecolumnheadingthatappearsinthe
.
Thesecondcolumnreferstothe Type ofdata.Althoughgenderiscategoricaldata,itis
refered to as numeric because numeric code values have been used! The keyto these
codevaluesisgiveninthecolumnheaded Values.
ThefifthcolumncontainsthevariablesLabel.Atpresentthisis partiallyobscuredbythe
subsequentcolumn.Toseethefullvaluelabel:
Move your mouse pointer inbetween the Label and the Values column headings
untillthis, appears.
Click and drag the column width to the right until the
variableslabelcanberead.
Note: ifyouwishtoeditavariableslabeljustretypethelabelin

theappropriatecell.
Thesixthcolumncontainsthekeytothecodesusedforeachvariable.Theseareknown
asthe Value labels.
ToseetheValue labelsused:
Clickonthecellcontainingthefirstvalueforthevariablegender
Clickonthe

totherightofthiscell.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

The Value Labels dialogue box appears.

Itshowsthecurrentvaluelabelsforthis
variable.

Note:youcanalsousethisoptionto
changeeachvaluelabelforthe codes
orenternewvaluelabels.
Click

in the Value
Labels dialogueboxtoreturnto
theVariableView.
Usetheideasinthisexercisetoexploreatleastfiveothervariablesinthedataset.
CheckthecodeswiththosethatappearinAppendix1,can youfindanyerrors?
EndofExercise4
Exercise5: Toundertakeafrequencydistribution

Returnto

Click Analyse | Descriptive

Statistics | Frequencies. The
Frequencies dialogue box
appears.
Ifthevariablesarearranged
alphabetically, use the
downward arrow on the
lefthandboxtoscrolldown
until Gender appears.
Highlight Gender in the left
handboxbyclickingonit.
Click

tomovegenderintothe Variable(s) box.

Note the arrowbutton changes direction and thecursormovestothe Variable(s)

box.Thisistoallowyoutoreverseyourdecisionifyouwish.
Click

Youwillseeaseriesoftablesdisplayedinthe SPSSViewer.NotethatSPSStellsyouif
therearemissingcases.Inthisinstance,thereisonemissingcase.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

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Use6and4to scroll to view the frequencies table. Note that SPSS lets you know if
thereareanymissingcasesandcalculatesthevalidpercentappropriately.

Repeat thisprocessusing Analyze|DescriptiveStatistics|Frequencies foratleast

five other variables of your choice. You can do this by pointing and clicking on
themenucommandswhicharevisibleatthetopofyourscreen.
While you are doing this, explore the effect of the
buttonsonyouroutput.
To remove the variables from the right Variable(s) box within the dialogue box
either click
click

or highlight the variable in the right Variable(s) box and

Toquitthisanalysis(forexample, ifyoumakeamistake)click

Youmay(ormaynot!)havenoticedthateachofthetasksyouhaveperformedinSPSS
has beenautomaticallyappendedtothe SPSSOutputViewer.Youcanseethisbyscrolling
throughyouroutputwindowusingtheupanddownarrowsontherightofthewindow.
YoucanedittheSPSSViewerandsaveit,orpartsofit,toafilewhichcansubsequently beread
intoawordprocessor.Alternativelyyoucanprintitout.

5.1:To delete outputinthe SPSS output viewer

TodeletesomeoutputintheSPSSOutputViewer:

Click the area you want to delete, a line will

appeararoundit.
PressDelete.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

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Todeletealltheoutputinthe SPSSOutputViewer:
Ensurethatthe SPSSOutputViewer windowismaximised.
IntheSPSSOutputViewerclick Edit|SelectAll.
Press Delete.

5.2: TosavethecontentsoftheSPSS output viewertoafile

Click File|SaveAs
Type in the filename you
wish to save it to in the
Filename box,makingsure
thefiletypeis *.spv.
Ensure that the file is
beingsavedtothecorrect
drive and directory (note:
pleasedonotsaveoutput
fromthe TEACH.SAV file).
Click

EndofExercise 5
Exercise6: Tocalculatethearithmeticmean(average)andthestandarddeviation

Click Analyze|DescriptiveStatistics|Descriptives.
Scroll down to and
select the Journey
variable (its at the
end of the variable
list), then click4to
put it in the
Variable(s) box.
Click

Notehowtheresults
areaddedtotheend

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

12

ofyouroutputinthe
SPSS Viewer. Note:
you may need to
maximise
the
window by clicking
[ ] to see all the
statistics.
We can thereforeseethat
the mean journey to work
is11.45km.
Endof Exercise6

Calculatingameanmakessense,asweareworkingouttheaveragedistance.However
wehavetobecareful.
We could calculate the mean gender in the same way. SPSS would take the codes for
male(1)andfemale(2),addthemallupanddividebythenumberofobservations.Itis
therefore important that you decide what statistic makes sense for the type of data
(Section2.2).
Other statistics for the average aremoreappropriateinthiscasethemode(theone
thatoccursmostoften).
Exercise7: Tocalculatethemodeandothermeasuresofcentraltendency
Tocalculatethemodeforthevariablegender:

Click Analyze|DescriptiveStatistics|Frequencies.
Click

toemptytheVariable(s)box.

Select
Gender,
then
click4to put it in the
Variable(s) box.
Click
right

on the

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

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Select Mode in the Central

Tendency dialogue box by
clickingonit.
A appearsintheboxwhenitis
selected(see right).

Click
to return
to
the
Frequencies
dialoguebox.
Thistime,wedonotwant
an output table so click
the box to the left of
to
removethetick.
Click

The following will be added to

the SPSS Output Viewer (dont
forget to maximise the window
andscrolldown).
We now know that the most
commongenderis2 female.

Repeatthisprocessbycalculatingthemostappropriateaverageforthefollowing
variables:
educate

prevemp

salary

seg

class

threeothersofyourchoice

Yourchoicesforthemostappropriateaverageare:

Mean:normallyknownastheaverageofthedatavalues.

Median:themidpointonceallthedatavalueshavebeenranked.

Mode:thedatavaluethatoccursmostoften.

EndofExercise7
Exercise8:To producea bar chart

Click Analyze|DescriptiveStatistics|Frequencies.
Deselectallvariablesbyclickingthe Reset button.
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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

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Scrolldownandselectthevariable (socialclass) Class.

Click

Usetheradiobuttontoselect BarCharts|Continue.
Atthe Frequencies dialogueboxclick OK.
The SPSS Output
Viewer will contain
yourbarchart.
Noticethatmissing
data
are
automatically
excluded from the
chart. Notice also
that
you
are
presented with a
different menu bar
which allows you
to edit the current
chart and other
options.
Totheleftofyourbarchartisaseriesoficons.Theseprovideanindextoyour
outputthatisinthe SPSSOutputViewer.
Clickthe

icon ontheleft toseewhathappens.

Now practice your charting skills by creating another bar chart for the variable
(educationalattainment) Educate butwiththeverticalaxisdisplayingpercentages
ratherthanfrequencies.
Youwillneedto:

Deselect the variable

Class and select the
variable Educate.

Select

Percentages
Continue.

Thiswillgiveyouachartlike
theoneontheright.
EndofExercise8

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

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Exercise9:To createa table(Crosstab)of one variable against another

One of the most useful features of SPSS is its

ability to create crosstabulations of one variable
againstanother.Inthisexercise,youwillcreatea
table of the variable Educate (Educational
attainment) bythevariable Gender.Youwillwant
yourtabletolooklikethis.
Todothis:
MinimisetheSPSSOutputViewer.

male

female

postgradplus
uptodegree
uptoHNC/D
uptoA'level
uptoO'level(GCSEC+)
uptoCSE(GCSED)
Noquals.

Click Analyze|DescriptiveStatistics |Crosstabs.

This gives the Crosstabs
dialoguebox.
Select the Row(s) variable
Educational Attainment and
theColumn(s) variableGender
using the same principles as
whenselectingfrequencies.
Once you have selected row
and column variables, you
willbeabletoclick OK.
Your table will appear in the
SPSSOutputViewer.

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EndofExercise9
Exercise10:To calculateaChicsquare statisticfora table

MinimisetheSPSSOutputViewer.
Click Analyze | Descriptive Statistics |
Crosstabs.
Select the Row(s) variable Educational
Attainment and the Column(s) variable
Gender using the same principles as
whenselectingfrequencies.
Click

, the Crosstab:
Statistics dialogueboxappears.
Select Chisquare option.
Click Continue | OK. The results will be
displayedintheSPSSOutputViewer.

The key elements of your output are in the row titled Pearson ChiSquare and the
associatedfootnote.
Thechisquarestatistic(thevalueforPearsonChiSquare),is,inthiscase,52.529with6
degreesoffreedom(df).Thisishighlysignificant.000.Thefootnotestatesthatnocells
have an expected count of less than 5 and that the minimum expected frequency for
each cell in the table is 7.86. This means the assumptions of the Chisquare test are
satisfied.

EndofExercise 10
Exercise11:To add rowand column percentstoa table using crosstabs

MinimisetheSPSSOutputViewer.
SelecttwovariablesyouwishtousetocreateatableasoutlinedinExercise9.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

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Click
atthetoprightof
thecrosstabsdialoguebox.
Click on Row and/or Column and/or
Total in the Percentages dialogue
box (see right) to obtain thedesired
percentages.
Click Continue|OK.
Use SPSS to create further new
tablesfrompairsofvariablesofyour
choice. Note: it would be sensible to
usevariablesthatcontaincategorical
data rather that quantifiable data
seeSection2.2.
EndofExercise11
Exercise12:To recodea variable's valuesintoa new variable

Inthisexerciseyouaregoingtocreateanewvariable educnew fromthevariable Educate

(Educationalattainment) byrecodingthevaluesasfollows:
Postgraduatestudy(1)

UptoAlevel(4)

Uptodegreelevel(2)

UptoOlevelorequivalent(5)

UptoHNC/Dordiploma(3)

UptoCSEorequivalent(6)

Notstated

Missing

This will split educational attainment into those educated up to A level (code 4) and those
educatedaboveAlevel(code1).

MinimisetheSPSSOutputViewer.
Click Transform|Recode|IntoDifferentVariables.
Thisgivesthe RecodeintoDifferentVariables dialoguebox.
Click Educate inthevariablelist
on the lefthand side, it willbe
highlighted.
Click
to
transfer
the
variable into the Numeric
Variable >OutputVariable box.
In the Output Variable area,
clickinthe Name: boxandtype
the new variable name
educnew and a new variable
label College Education? in the
Label boxbelow.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

Click

18

NoticethatthenewvariablelabelappearsintheNumericVariable >OutputVariable
box.
Click
and the Recode into
Different Variables
dialogueboxopens.
To recode the values 1, 2
and3into1:
Click the Range radio
button in the Old
Value dialogue box
andtype 1 inthefirst
box and 3 in the
secondbox.
Clickthe Value radiobuttoninthe NewValue dialogueboxandtype 1 intheboxto
theright.
Click Add.
Notethattherecodehasbeenaddedintothe Old >New dialoguebox:
Revisethisproceduretorecodethevalues4,5and6to4.
Revisethisproceduretorecodethevalue7toamissingvalue,usingtheValue and
the SystemMissing radiobuttons.
Checkthe Old > New dialogueboxlookslikethis:
Click Continue|OK.
Thenewvariablewillbecreatedandyouwillbereturnedtothe DataView.
NowusetheproceduresoutlinedinExercise5toproduceafrequencydistribution
foryournewvariable.
EndofExercise12
WARNING: it is possible to recode a variable into the same variable, however doing this will
DELETEtheoriginalvaluesforthevariable.Ifyoudecidetodothis,makeasecuritycopy(save
ontoadifferentdisc)ofyourdatafirst.
Exercise13: Tocomputeanewvariablefromexistingvariable(s)

In this exercise, you are going to create a new variable age from the variable born by
subtractingthevariablebornfromtheyear,inthisinstance95.Remember, yearofbirth
wasonlycodedastheyearsinthe lastcenturyandsowedonotincludethe19.
Age =95 born

EnsuretheSPSSOutputViewerisminimised.
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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

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Click Transform|Compute.
This gives the Compute
Variable dialoguebox.
Type age inthe Target
Variable: box.
Click
and labelthevariable
Ageinyears.
Click Continue.
Point and click the
number 9 followedby
5 on the number pad
inthedialoguebox.
Point and click the
arithmetic operator
in the dialogue
box.
Clickthevariableborn
(Year of birth) in the
list of variable names
on the list and click
.
Check
that
this
expression
has
appeared in the
Numeric Expression
box.
Ifyoumakeacompletemessofit,click Reset atthebottomandstartagain.
Click OK.
This is only a very simple compute and it is possible to do far more complex calculations. In
somecasesitisbettertowritethemdownpriortotypingthemin!
EndofExercise13

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Exercise14:To undertakean analysison partofthe data set

Inthisexerciseyouaregoingtoselectasubsetofyourdata:allfemaleemployees.
Ifnecessary,minimisetheSPSSOutputViewer.
Click Data|SelectCases.
Click on the If condition is
satisfied radiobutton.
Click
button,
the following dialogue
boxappears:
Click Gender
variablelist.

in

the

Click
to transfer the
variable into the box on
the right.
Click ontheoperator
inthedialoguebox.
Click on the number 2 on
the number pad in the
dialoguebox.
Checkthattheexpression
gender=2 hasappearedin
thebox.
Click

Check that the Unselected

Cases Are: Filtered is
selected. Filtered means
that you will not be
deleting the rest of your
data, in this case all the
males!

Click OK.
Undertakeananalysisofyourchoice, usingjustthedataforfemales.
EndofExercise14
Exercise15:To returntothe full data setafter usinga selection(select cases)

MakesuretheSPSSOutputViewerisminimised.
Click Data|SelectCases.
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Clickonthe Allcases radiobutton.

Click OK.
EndofExercise15

Exercise16:To exitSPSS

Click File|Exit.
SPSSwillaskyouifyouwanttosavethecontentsofyour OutputViewerandData
Editor.
EndofExercise16

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4) ANALYSINGYOUROWNDATAIN SPSS FOR WINDOWS

Exercise17:To checkthatyour datahave been entered correctly

MakesurethatyouhaveloadedSPSS(Exercise1).
Loadyourdatafile(Exercise2,orExercise3foranExcelfile).
Construct a frequency distribution (frequencies) for each variable and check it in
the output window (Exercise 5). Provided you have labelled all valid value labels,
anyvalueswithoutlabelswillbeerrors!NB:ifyouhaveloadedanExcelfilethere
willbenovaluelabels.
Construct tables (crosstabs) to discover if data have been entered for questions
where the respondent shouldhavenotresponded(Exercise9);perhapsduetoa
skipgeneratedbyafilterquestion.
Compute new variables to make sure there are no foolish responses (Exercise 13)

suchasemployeesagedover65.
Foreacherrornotedowntheidnumberwhichcorrespondstothesurveyformby
using:
SelectCases (Exercise14)toonlyselectthosecaseswhichcontainthe error.

Crosstabs (Exercise 9) to construct a table of the variable identifier by the

variablewhichcontainstheerror.
CorrectyourdataasdescribedinHelp17.1to17.4.

Help17.1:toreplaceadatavalue

MakesurethatyouhaveloadedSPSSandthatthedatafilehasalreadybeenopened.
Clickthecellthatcontainsthedatavalue.
Enterthenewvalue(thiswillreplacetheoldvalue).
Press Return.Thenewvalueappearsinthecell.

Help17.2:To deleteall data valuesfora variable(or case)

Note: beforedeletinganentirevariable(orcase),itisworthsavingthedatafile(Exercise

10)incaseyoumakeamistake.
Highlightallthevaluesforthatvariable(orrow)but not thevariablename.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

23

Press Delete.Eachvaluewillbereplacedby"."signifyinga"missingvalue".

Note: if you make a mistake, you can rectify it immediatelyafterwardsbyclicking Edit|

Undo.

Help17.3:To deletea variable(or case)

Clickthevariablename(orcasenumber)tohighlighttheentirecolumn(orcase).

Press Delete.Thevariable(orcase)willbedeleted.

Note: if you make a mistake, you can rectify it immediatelyafterwardsbyclicking Edit|

Undo.

Help17.4: Toentermissingvalues

Missingvaluesinacellaresignifiedbya"."asillustratedinHelp17.2.Toenteramissing
valueinablankcelldo not type"."
Clickoncellinwhichtoenterthatthedataismissing.
Press Tab tomoveonecelltotheright.
Typeinthenextvalue.
Press Tab tomoveonecelltotherightandsoon.
Toenteramissingvalueinacellwhichalreadyhasavalueit:

Clickoncellwhichcurrentlycontainsthedata.
Press Delete.
Press Tab tomoveonecelltotheright.
Exercise18:To analyse data

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

24

Notetheresearchquestionsyouwishtoanswer.
Choose the most appropriate statistical and charting techniques and SPSS
procedures.
Use the SPSS procedures to analyse the data (see Help 18.1 to 18.3 for additional
procedures).

Help18.1:To testfora significant relationship between two variables(correlation)

MakesureyouhaveloadedSPSSandthatthedatafilehasalreadybeenopened.
Click Analyze|Correlate|Bivariate.
Click on the first variable for
you wish to obtain a
correlation coefficient with
anothervariable.
Click
to transfer the
variable into the Variables
box.
Repeatthisprocedureforthe
other variable(s) you wish to
correlate with the first
variable.
Choose the most appropriate
CorrelationCoefficient foryour
dataandmakesurethereisa
inthebox.
Choosethemostappropriate TestofSignificance andclickontheradiobutton.
Note: use a Twotailed test when the direction of the relationship, positive or negative,
cannotspecifiedinadvance.Usea Onetailed testwhenitcanbespecifiedinadvance.

Makesurethereisa
inthebox Flagsignificantcorrelations.Thiswillensurethe
significancelevelisdisplayed.
Click OK.
TheresultsofthecorrelationwillappearintheOutputWindow.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

25

In this output window,

thevariables Salary and
Born
from
the
TEACH.SAV data set
havebeencorrelated.
SPSS has produced a
correlation
matrix.
Obviously there is a
perfect
correlation
(1.0000) between the
variable initial annual
Salary anditself.
Asthevariableiscorrelatedwithitselfitisimpossibletocalculatethesignificance(p=.
).Thereisnocorrelation(0.011)betweenthevariable Salary andthevariable Born and
thislackofcorrelationissignificantatthe0.841(p = 0.841)level.

Help18.2:Totestforasignificantcausalrelationshipbetweenonedependentandone
ormoreindependentvariables(linearregression)

MakesureyouhaveloadedSPSSandthatthedatafilehasalreadybeenopened.
Checkthatyourdataareappropriateforregressionanalysis.
Click Analyze|Regression|Linear.
Click on the
dependent
variable
which you
wish
to
predict
using
another
variable or
variables.
Click
to
transfer the
variableinto
the
Dependent

box.
Repeatthisproceduretotransfertheindependentvariable(s)youwishtouse
topredictthedependentvariableintothe Independent(s) box.
Click OK.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

26

Warning: interpreting the regression output is comparativelycomplicated. You need to

understand the regression coefficient (r2) and the regressionequation(y=a+bx).The

SPSS manual (Norusis, 1992) explains these in some detail. A simpler explanation of
regression withone independent variable is provided in Section 2, Unit 18 of Saunders
andCooper(1993).

Help18.3:To useotherstatisticaltests

Giventheintroductorynatureofthishandout,andtheneedforareasonablestatistical
knowledgeto makeinformeddecisionsabouttheuseofstatisticaltests,theprocedures
forotherstatisticaltestsarenotdiscussed.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

27

5) FURTHER READING
ThemostusefulbookonSPSSinmyopinionis:
q

Norusis,M.J.(2007). SPSS15GuidetoDataAnalysis.London:Prentice Hall.

Unlike many computer manuals this is both readable and easy to use! It also contains
adviceregardingwhentousedifferentstatisticaltests.However,atthetimeofwriting,
theupdateofthebookforversion10hasyettobewritten.
Two goodbooks onSPSSforbeginners, whichalsoclearlyexplainthestatisticsare:
q

Field,A.(2009). DiscoveringStatisticsUsingSPSS (3rd Edn).London:Sage.

Pallant, J. (2007). SPSS Survival Manual: A Step by Step Guide toDataAnalysisUsing

SPSSforWindows(Version15).Buckingham:OUP.

These books offer a clear, nontechnical approach to using SPSS. They assume little
familiarity with the data analysis software and cover both inputting data and how to
generateandinterpretawiderangeoftables,diagramsand statistics.
A reasonably straightforward book on collecting your data and preparing it for
quantitativeanalysisis:
q

Saunders, M.N.K., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2009). Research Methods for Business
Students (5th Edn). London:FinancialTimes PrenticeHall,Chapters10and11.

If you need a statistics book that assumes virtually no statistical knowledge focussing
upon which test or graph, when to use it and why. It is written for people who are
fearfulandanxiousaboutstatisticsanddonotthinktheycanunderstandnumbers then
youmayfindthefollowinghelpful:
q

BermanBrown,R.andSaunders,M.(2008). Dealingwith Statistics:Whatyouneedto

know. Maidenhead: McGrawHillOpenUniversityPress.

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

6) APPENDIX 1: LISTOF VARIABLES

28

1) LocalGovernment

ANDTHEIR CODESFOR DATA SET

2) OutsideLocalGovernment

TEACH.SAV

3) Student

Variable names are in capitals with the

variablelabelonthesameline.Codesand
valuelabelsappearonsubsequentlines.
GENDER

GenderofEmployee
1) Male
2) Female
BORN

YearofBirth
19 year
MARITAL

MaritalStatus
1) Single
2) Married
3) Widowed
4) Divorced
EDUCATE

EducationalAttainment
1) PostgraduateStudy
2) UptoDegreeLevel
3) UptoHNC/DorDiploma
4) UptoAlevel
5) UptoOlevel
6) UptoCSE
7) Noeducationalqualificationsstated
PROFMEMB

ProfessionalBodyMembership
1) MemberofProfessionalBody
2) Notamemberofa ProfessionalBody
PREVEMP

NatureofPreviousEmployment

Prof.MarkN.K.Saunders
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4) Unemployed
5) Selfemployed
6) YouthTrainingScheme
7) Retired
PREVEAST

TownofpreviousemploymentEastings
PREVNOR

TownofpreviousemploymentNorthings
APPLEAST

HomeTownwhenappliedEastings
APPLNOR

HomeTownwhenAppliedNorthings
OCCUPAT

Occupation(OPCS1980Classification)
1.00

Solicitor

2.10

Auditor

2.20

Accountant

2.50

Valuer

3.10

PersonnelOfficer

3.20

WorkStudyOfficer

4.20 ComputerProgrammer
5.20

AdvertisingExecutive

6.10

EHOfficer

6.20 BuildingInspector
8.00 AdminExecutive
9.50 LegalExecutive
9.80 Curator(Museum)
13.10 Warden(OAP)
13.20 PlayGroupLeader
13.30 WelfareOccupationsn.e.c.
18.20 Vet
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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

29

22.20 Projectionist

62.30 ArtGallaryAttendant

25.00 MunicipalEngineer

63.30 SupervisorBar

31.10 Architect/TownPlanner

63.40 SupervisorCatering

31.20 QuantitySurveyor

65.20 Barperson

31.30 BuildingSurveyor

66.10 CounterHand

33.10 Architect/TownPlannerTechnician

71.10 SupervisorCaretakers

33.20 Building/EngineeringTechnician

71.40 SupervisorCarParks

33.40 WorksManager

72.10 Caretaker

35.10 MaintenanceSupervisor

72.20 Cleaner

35.20 ClerkofWorks

75.20 CarParkAttendant

36.20 TransportManager

75.60 ServiceWorkern.e.c.

36.30 StoresController

76.30 ForemanGardeners

37.20 OfficeManager

78.10 HorticultureWorkers

39.50 Entertainments/SportsManager

78.20 Gardener

44.10 CaravanSiteManager

83.00 DogWarden

44.40 Managersn.e.c.

100.30PrintMachineOperator

45.20 SupervisorStoresClerks

105.10 Carpenter

45.30 SupervisorDrawingAssistants

109.30BlackSmith

45.40 SupervisorClerks

111.00 ManagementTrainee

45.50 SupervisorCashiers

114.50 ForemanFitters

46.10 ClerkStores

118.10 Fitter

46.20 TracerAssistant

125.00 Plumber

46.30 ClerkNonretail

133.40 PainterandDecorator

47.00 CashierRetail

139.10 ForemanBricklayers

48.20 SupervisorMachineOperators

139.11 ForemanSewageWorkers

49.10 Receptionist

139.12 ForemanConstructionWorkers

49.20 Typist

139.80HighwaysInspector

50.00 PunchCardOperator

140.10 Bricklayer

51.10 TelephoneReceptionist

140.50BuildingWorker

51.20 SwitchBoardOperator

142.10 SeagePlantAttendant

56.00 MealsonWheelsOperator

152.20 RefugeVehicleDriver

60.40 EstateRanger

152.30 RoadSweeperDriver

60.60 SupervisorSecurity

156.10 ForemanStorekeeper

62.10 ParkKeeper

156.40ForemanRefuseCollection

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

30

157.10 StoreKeeper

EMPLEAST

157.40 RefuseCollector

TownofEmploymentEastings

159.80ForemanLabourers

EMPLNOR

160.80 Labourern.e.c.

TownofEmployment(Northings)

EMPSTAT

HOMEEAST

EmploymentStatusonapplication

Home Town at start of Employment

(Eastings)

1) Manager

HOMENOR

2) Foreman/Supervisor
3) Apprentice/Trainee

Home Town at start of Employment

(Northings)

4) Employeen.e.c.

NOTIFY

SEG

1) NotificationOutlet1

SocioeconomicGroup
in

2) Internal

1.2

Managers
Industry

Government

and

4.0

ProfessionalEmployees

5.1

AncillaryWorkers

5.2

Foremen/Supervisors(nonmanual)

6.0

JuniorNonmanual

7) PER(ProfessionalExecutiveRegister)

7.0

PersonalServices

8) EmploymentAgency(PrivateSector)

8.0

Foremen/Supervisors(manual)

9.0

SkilledManual

10.0

SemiskilledManual

11.0

UnskilledManual

15.0

AgriculturalWorkers

CLASS

3) Wordof Mouth
4) LetterofEnquiry
5) CirculartoadjacentLocalAuthorities
6) JobCentre

9) CareersOffice(local)
DAILYLOCALNEWSPAPERS

10) EveningPost
WEEKLYLOCALNEWSPAPERS

11) TwoCountyCourier
12) Local TownChronicle

SocialClass

13) CountyMessenger

1) Professional

14) CountyExpress

2) IntermediateNonmanual

15) LocalTownNews

3) JuniorNonmanual

16) EastCountyGazette

4) SkilledManual
5) SemiskilledManual
6) UnskilledManual
SALARY

InitialAnnualSalary(SpinalColumnPoint)

FREEWEEKLYLOCALNEWSPAPERS

17) LocalTownNewsinFocus
18) NewsinFocus
19) LocalTownTimes
20) LocalTownTimesandGazette
NATIONALDAILYNEWSPAPERS

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

31

21) DailyMail

50) MunicipalJournal*

22) DailyTelegraph

51) Public
Service
Government*

23) TheTimes

and

Local

52) MunicipalEngineer*

24) TheGuardian
NATIONALSUNDAYNEWSPAPERS

53) BathsServiceCircular

25) SundayTimes

54) CatererandHotelSupervisor

JOURNALS
SERVICE)

55) AccountancyAge

AND MAGAZINES (*PUBLIC

56) Management(WorkStudy)Services

26) CommercialMotor

57) QuantitySurveyorsWeekly

27) HorticultureandAmenitiesWeekly

58) Surveyor

28) Army
Appointments
Magazine

59) ArchitectsJournal

Service

29) ChurchTimes
30) ParksandRecreation
31) GolfIllustrated
32) Groundsman
33) Healthand SocialServices Journal
34) LadyMagazine

60) ThePlanner
61) Building
62) Planning
63) LawSocietyGazette
64) MeatTradesJournal
65) Protection

35) PublicFinanceandAccounting*

66) Institute of Personnel Managers

Digest

36) Institute of Management Science

Journal

67) NewCivelEngineer

37) UKPressGazette
38) BuildingTradesJournal
39) GardenersChronicle
40) SolicitorsJournal
41) NursingTimes
42) NurisingMirror
43) PolicyHolderInsuranceJournal
44) Opportunities*
45) EstatesGazette
46) ClerkofWorksWeekly

68) VeterinaryRecord
69) CurrentVacancies
70) TheStage
71) RegionalArtsMagazine
72) HealthandSafetyatWork
NOTIFY2

NotificationOutletasforNOTIFY1
NOTIFY3

NotificationOutletasforNOTIFY1
NOTIFY4

NotificationOutletasforNOTIFY1

47) Computing

NOTIFY5

48) Association of Recreation Managers

Appointments

NotificationOutletasforNOTIFY1

49) LocalGovernmentChronicle*
Prof.MarkN.K.Saunders
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NOTIFY6

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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

32

NotificationOutletasforNOTIFY1

10) Death

NOTIFY7

11) Illness

NotificationOutletasforNOTIFY1

12) Marriage

NOTIFY8

13) FamilyCommitments

NotificationOutletasforNOTIFY1

14) FirstJobCommitments

NOTIFY9

15) Leaving theCountry

NotificationOutletasforNOTIFY1

16) TravelCosts

NOTIFY10

17) FixedTermContract

NotificationOutletasforNOTIFY1

18) Other

YEAREMP

FULLPART

YearofEmployment

FullorParttimeEmployment

19 Year ofEmployment

1) Part Time

ASSISTAC

2) Part Time(secondjob)

AssistancebyAccommodationProvision

3) Fulltime

1) PermanentAccommodationProvided

HEARDN1

2) TemporaryAccommodationProvided

NOTIFY1ishowfirstheardofvacancy

3) Noassistancegiven

1) Yes

ASSISTMO

2) No

AssistancewithMovingExpenses
1) FinancialAssistanceGiven

Thefollowingadditionalvariableshavebeen
createdusingSPSS

2) NoAssistanceGiven

INTERNAL

TERMYEAR

Notifiedinternally

YearofTerminationofEmployment

1) used

19 Yearof Termination

2) notused

TERMWHY

CIRCULAR

1) ReasonforTermination

Notified by circulating other Local

Authorities

2) NewJob
3) Spouse'sNewJob
4) GoingtoCollege
5) HavingaBaby
6) EarlyRetirement
7) Retirement
8) Redundancy
9) Dismissed
Prof.MarkN.K.Saunders
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1) used
2) notused
JOBCENTR

NotifiedatJobCentre
1) used
2) notused
LOCAL

NotifiedinLocalPress
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SPSS17AnalysingQuantitativeData

33

1) used

1) used

2) notused

2) notused

REGIONAL

DISTMIG

NotifiedinRegionalMedia

DistanceMigrated(km)

1) used

straightlinedistancemigrated

2) notused

JTOWORK

NATIONAL

Journeytowork(km) newjob

NotifiedinNationalMedia

straightlinedistanceofjourney

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Fulltime/parttime
Reasonfortermination(9)
Yearoftermination
Assistance(8)
YearofEmployment
Notificationoutlet(s)(7)
Hometown new(4)
NewEmployment location(4)
SpinalColumnpoint(6)
Occupation(5)
Hometown applied(4)
PreviousEmployment location(4)
PreviousEmployment nature(3)
Professional membership(2)
Education(1)

April2009
Prof.MarkN.K.Saunders

Maritalstatus
YoB
Gender
ID

Document1

page:
Nameoforganisation:

DATACOLLECTIONSHEETFORPERSONNELRECORDS

Nameoforganisation:

7) NOTESON DATACOLLECTION
1) Recordedashighestqualificationachieved.
2) Recordedonayes/nobasis.
3) Codedatcollection(1:LocalGovernment,3:OutsideLocalGovernment,4:Student,
5: Unemployed, 6: SelfeEmployed; additional codes added as necessary during
collection).
4) Recorded as place name, subsequently coded as a grid reference (Eastings and
Northings).
5) Recorded as actual job; subsequently coded into occupation, employment status,
socioeconomic group and social class using existing UK government classification
(see pages 3334 of ResearchMethodsforBusinessStudents, 3rd Edn for details of
UKgovernmentclassifications).
6) Recordedasspinalcolumnpointtoovercometheimpactofinflationonsalaries.
7) Alloutletsrecorded,whereoutletactuallyheardaboutjobknown, indicatedby*.
8) Provisionofaccommodationand/ormovingexpensesrecorded.
9) Recordedasactualreason,subsequentlycoded.

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April2009