Introduction
Welcome to the Introduction to SPSS module. This module provides an introduction to using the statistical software SPSS, which is installed on most computers at Curtin's Australian campuses. The module covers the key ways you can use the software to analyse quantitative data, and uses a small health-related data set as an example. The idea is that you can then apply these same concepts to any data of your own, regardless of your discipline or the amount of data you have.
Note that if you are not familiar with some or all of the statistical concepts mentioned in this module, you may find it useful to work through the Introduction to statistics module first.
If you have any questions about this module, please contact Library-UniSkills@curtin.edu.au
What you will learn
- How to set up variables and enter data in SPSS
- How to use SPSS to calculate simple descriptive statistics and create simple charts for your data
- How to use SPSS to test whether continuous variables are normally distributed
- How to obtain and interpret confidence intervals in SPSS
- How to conduct t-tests and one-way ANOVA in SPSS
- How to test for relationships between pairs of continuous and categorical variables using Pearson's correlation and the Chi square test (respectively) in SPSS
- How to work with subsets of data and multiple response sets, and how to transform data
- How to use the SPSS syntax to write commands and automate processes
Getting started
This part of the module looks at how to get started entering and data and calculating descriptive statistics in SPSS. The information is provided in a document, which covers how to enter data, how calculate descriptive statistics, how to create charts and how to work with subsets of and transform data.
Inferential statistics
This part of the module looks at how to conduct some common inferential statistical tests in SPSS. The information is provided in a document, which covers testing for normality, confidence intervals, t tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and the Chi-square test. Examples make use of the Health_Data.sav file, which you can download from the link below.
Extra tips and tricks
This part of the module covers a few extra tips and tricks you may find helpful when analysing data in SPSS. The information is provided in a document, which covers data transformations, working with multiple response data and the use of syntax. Examples make use of the Health_Data.sav file, which you can download from the link below.
