Let’s begin by creating a variable for case identification. The first thing you want to do in setting up a SPSS data file is to create a variable you will use to identify the case. All of the data for a single case (organization, individual, family, couple, etc.) is entered in one row and is referred to as a “record.” The SPSS data file is structured with the variables in the columns and cases in the rows. You can click back and forth between these two tabs. The second tab “data view” is where you will go to enter the data. If you look in the bottom left of the screen you should see two tabs and the tab that is highlighted will be “ data view.” The variable view screen is where you will define the variables or make changes to how existing variables are defined. You can access the tutorial from the Help button on the main toolbar at the top of the screen. It is advisable to return to the SPSS tutorial at some point. In newer versions of SPSS you will arrive at an empty grid ready to create a new data file. For now, select create a new file and click on OK and a blank screen with a grid on it should appear. Depending on the version of SPSS you are using, you may see a screen that allows you to run an SPSS tutorial, open an existing file, or create a new file. Lets get started using SPSS to create a new data file. If missing values are left blank, SPSS will not add the values for that case, therefore I use zeros for 0 days, and a defined value like 999 for any missing data. If they do not equal 365 days then I know I have an error(s) and I can easily find them. For instance, in one of my files the variables days in placement, days home, days runaway, were added to check that they equaled 365 days in a year. Also, if you have to add the variable to another variable, any cells with blanks will not compute. You can leave the space blank for missing data, but if you do it is sometimes difficult to know if the blank was intentional or not.
SPSS VERSION 25 SELECT CASES YOU TUBE TUTORIAL SERIES
You also need missing values specified for interval or ratio level variables, and again it is convention to use a series of 9s. Where there is the possibility of missing data, you need to assign missing values a number, usually the number 9 is used for missing data, or 99 if the 9 is a real value, or 999, etc. Although the numbers are arbitrary and have no quantitative meaning, it is best to start with zero or one and work sequentially (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.) through all possibilities. You would need to assign each possible value a number, e.g., female = 0, and male = 1. For example, gender could be female or male. If the variable is nominal or ordinal, you need to define the values you will use for data entry. If the variable is interval or ratio, you do not have to assign variable values because the numbers have a true quantitative meaning, e.g., gross annual income is gross annual income. Variable values: these are the range of possible responses for the variable. For the variable marstat, you would type marital status for the variable label, for gender you would probably type “gender” or “gender of participant.” Variable labels are important as they include description that is not possible in the variable name. Variable label: this is a longer description of the variable name that appears on your output when you do your data analysis. Remember, each variable name must be unique you cannot name two variables the same name. You should try to be as descriptive as possible in naming your variables, e.g., gender could be called gender (6 characters), marital status could be called marstat (7 characters), etc. The SPSS program uses the variable name to identify the variable. Variable name : in SPSS this is an 8 character, or less, name that you assign a variable, although later versions allow more than 8 characters. Some terms you should know before you begin: Creating a Data File in SPSS Welcome to a tutorial on Getting Started in SPSS - Creating a Data File.
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