3-8 Orientation to SPSS

General orientation to SPSS

- Menu
- Data view vs. Variable view
- Entering variable
- Entering data
- Computing a new variable
- Saving files

Depression Drug Trial Study

- 2 IVs
o A - Type of pill (placebo | depression drug)
o B - Timing of depression inventory (pre-test | post-test)
- DV: score on depression inventory
o 1: low depression level
o 10: high depression level

Data view vs. Variable view

- In variable view, put the various variables that are used in the study.
- Make sure to not put any space or dashes while writing.
- The “label” category is to describe the IV.
- The “value” category is used when there are many IV groups and levels. Example: type of pill
will have 0 – control and 1 – depression drug under the value column.
- In data view, insert the scores under their respective columns. Control group being referred
to as 0 and drugged group as 1. Then insert the pre-test and post-test inventory scores.
Here, IV A is a between-subjects group since there is one group that is going through the
controlled condition and the other group going through the depression drug condition. But
the IV B is a within-subjects group since the depression inventory score will be tested on all
the participants.
- Computing a new variable is easy when sample is small. It requires just basic calculation.
However, it is easier to deal with large data set by going to Transform drop-down option in
the menu and select Compute Variable. Name the new variable and make the equation
which you want to be used for the values in the new variable.
- Don’t forget to save the file!

3-9 Descriptive Stats and Distributions

Calculate descriptive stats and frequency distributions

1. Measures of central tendency: mean, median, mode

2. Measures of dispersion: range, standard deviation
3. Frequency of distributions: normal, curve skewness
4. Save output
- For 3-9, we will be using the Analyse drop-down from the menu. Then it is the Descriptive
Statistics option and then Frequencies.
- Then from the bunch of variables we have, it asks for the variable for which we want the
descriptive stats of. Choose any and then go to Statistics.
- Statistics will ask for all the various options which we can choose for the analysis:
percentiles, central tendencies, dispersion, and distribution.
- Continue and then go to Charts if you would like to add a graph for better representation of
the data.
- Then click OK to move forward and you will see the frequency table and graphs.
- Save it because it will not do it for you!