Quick Tutorials

So, you want to use SPSS, IBM’s statistical software package, and you’re wondering whether you can download it for free? IBM offers a free 30-day trial of SPSS but, beyond that, you will normally have to pay for your license. Some academic institutions offer students, faculty and researchers free access to SPSS either via a … Read more

Spearman’s rank order correlation is a non-parametric test that we use to measure the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables measured on an ordinal, interval, or ratio scale. In this tutorial, we explain when you should use Spearman’s correlation; and how to calculate and interpret it in SPSS. Quick Steps Click Analyze … Read more

In this tutorial we show you how to compute and interpret Levene’s test for equality of variances in SPSS. Levene’s test assesses whether the variance of a dependent variable (e.g., exam scores) is equal for two or more groups (e.g., males and females).  Equality of variances is also known as homogeneity of variance and it … Read more

A population pyramid is a chart that allows us to visualize the distribution of a population by age and gender.  In this tutorial we will show you how to create a population pyramid in SPSS. Quick Steps Click Graphs -> Population Pyramid (in newer versions of SPSS) OR Click Graphs -> Legacy Dialogs -> Population Pyramid … Read more

In this quick tutorial, we’ll show you how to find the mode for one or more variables in SPSS. Quick Steps Click Analyze -> Descriptive Statistics -> Frequencies Click Reset (recommended) Move the variable(s) for which you want to calculate the mode to the Variable(s) box on the right Ensure that the Display frequency tables box is checked. Click Statistics … Read more

In this tutorial, we show you how to report a paired samples t-test from SPSS in APA style. First, we provide a template that you can use to a report paired samples t-test in APA style. Next, we show you how to use the SPSS output from your own t-test to populate this template. Finally, … Read more

There is no “zoom in” button in the data, output and syntax windows of SPSS, but it is possible to zoom in on SPSS files using Print Preview. Quick Steps Open your data, output or syntax file in SPSS Click File -> Print Preview Click Zoom In   First open your data (.sav), output (.spv) or … Read more

In this tutorial, we show you how to calculate a minimum sample size for a Pearson correlation coefficient using SPSS power analysis.  It is important to perform this calculation before you collect data for your study (although you may wish to carry out a pilot study beforehand).   Quick Steps Click Analyze -> Power Analysis … Read more

In this tutorial, we show you how to report an independent samples t-test from SPSS in APA style. First, we provide a template that you can use to report your independent samples t-test in APA style. Then we show you how to populate this template using the SPSS output from your own t-test. Finally, we … Read more

This tutorial shows you how to report a one way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) from SPSS in APA style.  First, we provide a template that you can use to report your one way ANOVA in APA style.  Then we show you how to populate this template using the SPSS output from your own ANOVA.  Finally, we … Read more

Tables are used to organize numbers and/or text in columns and rows. Use tables (and charts) when doing so allows you to communicate your data more effectively than describing that data in the text. In this tutorial we show you how to format your SPSS tables in APA style.  We will do some of this … Read more

Cronbach’s alpha is used to measure the reliability – or internal consistency – of a set of scale items. It can be used, for example, to assess the internal consistency of items on a Likert scale questionnaire. In this tutorial we will show you how to calculate and interpret Cronbach’s alpha in SPSS. Quick Steps … Read more

In this tutorial we will show you how to reverse score items (i.e., variables) in SPSS. Quick Steps Click Transform -> Recode into Same Variables Click Reset (recommended) Move the items that you need to reverse score from the box on the left to the Variables box Click Old and New Values Under Old Value, in the Value field, type the … Read more

In this tutorial we show you how to define Likert scale items (variables) in SPSS. What Are Likert Scale Items? Likert scale items (variables) are commonly used in the questionnaires that we use to measure respondents’ attitudes and opinions.   Respondents are invited to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement, according to points on a … Read more

In this tutorial we show you how to report the results of Fisher’s exact test from SPSS in APA style.  For additional information about formatting your reports, please refer to the APA Style website First, we present a template that you can use to report your Fisher’s exact test in APA style.  Then we show … Read more

In this tutorial, we show you how to report a one sample t test performed in SPSS in APA style. For additional information about formatting reports, please refer to the APA Style website. First, we provide a template that you can use to report your one sample t test in APA style. Then we show … Read more

In this tutorial we show you how to report a Mann-Whitney U test from SPSS in APA style. For additional information about formatting your reports, please refer to the APA Style website. First, we provide a template that you can use to report your test in APA style. Then we show you how to populate … Read more

After you have run analyses or created charts and tables in SPSS, you may wish to export this information for use in another application.  In this tutorial, we show you how to export SPSS output as a Word, Excel, PDF or other file type. Quick Steps Ensure that your output file is open in the … Read more

In this tutorial we show you how to report a Pearson correlation coefficient calculated in SPSS in APA style.  For additional information about formatting your reports, please refer to the APA Style website. First, we provide two templates that you can use to report your Pearson correlation coefficients in APA style.  Then we show you … Read more

This tutorial shows you how to create APA style charts in SPSS.  Charts are referred to as “figures” in the APA Style guidelines and include bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, scatter plots, histograms, and so on. Quick Steps Create your desired chart in SPSS Double-click on the chart in the SPSS Output Viewer Select … Read more