Basics
FAQs
What is SPSS?
SPSS stands for Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. We will use it for several homework assignments and most will use it for the statistical analysis portion of their research projects. SPSS is a tool to perform statistical analysis of the data of your choice. SPSS was originally developed for mainframe computers, but the version for the personal computer is now one of the most widely used software packages in higher education.
Where do I find it?
Bradley University has installed the full base version on Windows computers in several computing laboratories on campus. You will find the program installed on the machines in the library, Bradley Hall labs, and Baker Hall labs. It is not necessary to purchase or rent any version of the program. [There is a limited student version of the program which can be purchased for $96 dollars from Prentice-Hall (4 year license), the full version can be rented e-academy, or the full version can be purchased for $500 dollars from SPSS.] DO NOT purchase the program just for use in this course. You should have sufficient access to the program in the computing laboratories on campus
Can I install Bradley's copy of SPSS on my computer?
No. However, in past semesters some students have downloaded and installed the demo version at the end of the semester. This version if free from SPSS and can be used for 14 days. Thus, they waited until they were doing the analysis portion of the project before downloading the program.
What is a data file?
SPSS stores information in spreadsheet form. Each row represents a case (e.g., an individual) and each column is a variable (e.g., age of the individual). Previously completed studies provide their data to the public. Data for a completed project, such as the 2004 National Election Study, is usually referred to as a data set. To use the data from such a project you usually need both the data file and a codebook. The code book provides information about the study (e.g., how a sample was selected) and about each individual variable (e.g., how the composite political trust index was created by the study investigators).
Where do I find existing data files?
There are numerous sites on the web that provide data. See the PLS 209 homepage for links to some of these sites. Also, see the page on this site about importing various types of files into SPSS..
The data sets from several projects are maintained as SPSS data files for PLS 209. Follow the link on the PLS 209 homepage to download these files.
Can I create my own data file?
Yes. It is as easy as filling in cells in a spreadsheet. See the SPSS 11.0 Brief Guide especially chapter 3 on using the data editor. Also see Typing In Data at the Texas A&M University site.
Can I put SPSS output in my paper?
Yes. See the chapter on working with output in the SPSS 11.0 Brief Guide, particularly page 54. Often it is simply a matter of copying and pasting statistical results (e.g., a scatterplot) into a WORD document. Also see Output at WORD at the Texas A&M University site.
Return to PLS 209 Home Page
Larry Aspin aspin at bradley.edu
Department of Political Science