SPSS For Dummies

by Arthur Griffith

SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) is a data management and analysis software that allows users to generate solid, decision-making results by performing statistical analysis This book provides just the information needed: installing the software, entering data, setting up calculations, and analyzing data Covers computing cross tabulation, frequencies, descriptive ratios, means, bivariate and partial correlations, linear regression, and much more Explains how to output information into striking charts and graphs For ambitious users, also covers how to program SPSS to take their statistical analysis to the next level

Genres: Psychology, Mathematics, Nonfiction, Science, Academic

360 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2007

Reviews

[Hoda Marmar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear SPSS for Dummies,

My life seems to be revolving around statistics whether I like it or not. Whether in my social studies major (education), or in my biological studies major/passion (neuroscience); statistics have plagued my 2 undergrads and my 2 graduates. If I pursue a PhD in any (or both, depending on the nerdiness level of my 30's) of the 2, I will never be able to escape SPSS. I share a love/hate relationship with SPSS. It unnerves me when I get nonsensical mumbo jumbo (which means I have done something wrong and should go back to my notes and google stuff up). It also brings me tremendous joy and purpose in life when I actually get it right and have in hand all these beautiful numbers and graphs that I actually magically understand!!! It makes me want to cry, really.
Alright, so I read through your pages, and you were helpful, but not as much as my notes or the online tutorials. That is why you get a 3 stars. But I am keeping you for future references. Thanks for teaching me about binning.

Mixed feelings,
Hoda.

[Luke Agostino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a homage post to finishing my honours thesis !!! This counts as 200 books 🥲

[Russell Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I never have to open this book again for as long as I live it will be too soon. Joking aside it is a great help if like me you struggle with the finer aspects of using this statistical software program from IBM. However, be warned, it may say dummies on the front but this dummy still struggled to understand. It did leave me with one great piece of knowledge though..... there is absolutely no f**king way I'm doing a psychology masters!!

[Steven Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

SPSS (originally, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) has been around for quite awhile now. But its impact on the social sciences has been great (as other software packages such as SAS). In graduate school, we began with a program designed for Biomedical users. In those days, one had to type commands and statements on Hollerith cards, using a card punch. Take the cards to a window in the computer center, watch someone bring your tape with data on it, install it on a tape drive, and run the program on the data.

SPSS was a major step forward, and subsequent versions have become more powerful. Also, more complex. So is is absolutely predictable that SPSS would become the subject for the ". . .for Dummies" series. And this volume does a decent job helping the reader het through SPSS. . . .

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the "For Dummies" series, and this book didn't disappoint. I needed something that would be an easy-to-follow review of SPSS. This fit the bill. While they say not to read it cover to cover, I did, and actually enjoyed it. I may not use all of it, but I definitely hit the review points I needed, gained some extra knowledge on top of it, and will now put it away as a resource for future questions. Highly recommended as a refresher for those who need to start working with the program.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me do well on my Psychology Honours Thesis course. :)

[Manuel A. Crespo-Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I needed to read a book about SPSS other than the manual or the PSPP manual. Just needed to understand better how to input data for a class and hopefully this will help me in my own research.

[Nika · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I was expecting before reading this book is that I'd be skilled doing some analysis and interpretations. Because the first time I was taught about SPSS is to analyse and doing some tests. This book is not for the advanced use like that.

This book is about taking over some basic kind of stuffs that SPSS offers. I learn SPSS to do analysis but I don't know about some basic tricks that can be useful such as how to change order or group the data according to our will so it will be much easier to read. And SPSS teaches me about that. It contains some basic kind of introduction. Kind of feeling deceived from my expectation, but i'm not disappointed in reading this book.

This book also uses examples to describe about how this function, how this work, and almost of the sample of examples are acquired samples from SPSS. So you don't need to enter data samples, just open from your SPSS file.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't cringe when you hear the word, 'Syntax'! There I said it! I'm still here...everything will be okay! Whew!
Seriously, there is life after SPSS and data analysis. I've heard some say that after a class for this is over, they never wanted to hear the words, "Syntax", "Variable", or "Data" again! I want to review several books on this subject...notice I didn't say the words. But with steady study, going back time after time, and remembering the word, "SAVE", you can survive "SYNTAX!"

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's perfect and idiotproof. I do wish there was more on Syntax in it!