Session 1:

A First Look at SPSS

August 21, 2016

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Variables and Types of Data

Different types of variables:

Qualitative
Have distinct categories according to some characteristic or attribute.
Quantitative
Can be counted or measured.
Discrete variables assume values that can be counted.
Continuous variables assume an infinite number of values between any
two specific values.

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Variables and Types of Data

Examples:
Number of Thunder games a fan attends in a season.
A consumers favorite brand of soda.
Length of time spent on social media each day.

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Variables and Types of Data

Measurement scales:
Nominal level classifies data into mutually exclusive categories in
which no order or ranking can be imposed.
Ordinal level classifies data into categories that can be ranked;
however, precise differences between the ranks do not exist.
Interval level ranks data, and precise differences between units exist;
however, there is no meaningful zero.
Ratio level possesses all characteristics of interval level, and there
exists a true zero.

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Variables and Types of Data

Examples:
A new employees salary.
A students choice of major.
An individuals IQ.
The AP poll of college football team rankings.

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Variables and Types of Data

The roles of the variables:

Independent variable
Variable being manipulated by the researcher.
Also known as explanatory variable or factor.
Dependent variable
The result variable of interest to the study.
Also known as response or outcome variable.
Confounding variable
Variable that influences the dependent variable but was not separated
from the independent variable.
Can cause issues with determining causation.

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SPSS Basics
First dialog box:

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SPSS Basics

Output viewer window:

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SPSS Basics

Data editor window:

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SPSS Basics

Variable view:

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SPSS Basics

Managing data and output:

To save new work: File Save
To open previuos work: File Open Data
To start new work: File New Data

Note: .sav and .spv are SPSS file extensions, and the data and output
must be saved separately!

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