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Preparing your data
1. Name your first questionnaire item (Variable) with a short name. Note that some questions may have more than one item of data. Variable names should begin with a letter and have less than 8 characters with no spaces.
2. If your data are not expressed numerically, eg 15 minutes, 5 hours a week, give each possible response a number eg male = 1; female = 2. These numbers (values) are arbitrary. Keep a record.
3. Add data for the first nine cases.
4. Repeat for the next variables.
In SPSS
1. Insert the Variable names
(a) Highlight the first VAR column by using the Mouse. Click on DATA from the top of the screen.
(b) Select Define Variable (The first option).
(c) In the variable name box insert the name of your variable.
(d) Stay in the same window and select Labels.
Variable label allows you to give a complete description of your variable name. You are not limited to eight characters and you can use spaces. This is useful because it will be printed on certain outputs you get later. However, it may not be necessary if your variable name is descriptive
Values and value labels are used when you have developed values as in step 2 in "Preparing your data". Again this step is not necessary but will prove useful later because you will not have to remember that eg 1 is male and 2 is female.
Example: age variable on questionnaire
Age 18-24
Age 25-31
Age 32-38
Age 39-45
Click on Value box, type 1 Click on Value Label box, type 18-24 Click on add box which will have become highlighted 1 = "18-24" will be shown Go back to Value box, type 2 Click on Value Label box, type 25-31 Click on add box, continue until finished, Click Continue then OK
2. Insert Data by highlighting the box for the first case of your variable, type the appropriate number (value label or straight numeric data), hit enter and the highlighted box will go down to case 2.
You can use the arrows or mouse to move around in the boxes. If you make a mistake, return to the box and type in the correct number.
If you have missing data, leave the box empty and SPSS will insert a ·
3. Analyze the data. Select STATISTICS and you will get a number of options. Select Summarise and yet more options will appear. Select Frequencies.
Your variable will be highlighted in the left box, hit the arrow and the variable will move to the right, Hit OK.
What results do you get when you ask for frequencies? What is your output telling you? What does it mean?
4. Save your data by going to your data file (Select Window). Then select FILE and type in A:\filename.sav
5. Continue for the next variable. Normally you will set up the entire data sheet and work through questionnaire by questionnaire rather than variable by variable.
For thought over the next few weeks
How might you analyse the data for each of your questions? What statistical techniques (eg percentages, mean or average) might be appropriate? Do different types of data require different techniques?