Introduction to SPSS Course

Data analysis and analytics. Uncover insights and transform your organisation.

COVID-19 update: arrangement of our courses

We are now delivering courses both online and in-person. Please check the delivery format for each class before you enrol.

Please note that course materials for all classes (excluding prescribed textbooks) are shared electronically within 48 hours of a course starting. Printing is not available.

This introductory SPSS course is for researchers and administrators who need to turn data into actionable insights with a powerful and easy-to-use database.

This course provides practical, hands-on experience using many of the functions in SPSS. You will learn basic statistical concepts and practice data analysis and interpretation.

This course will prepare you for participation in more advanced SPSS courses, or more advanced statistics courses.

Aims

This course aims to provide you with a basic introduction to many of the functions in SPSS, along with a basic understanding of applied statistics, statistical analysis and statistical interpretation.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• identify different data types
• develop a data dictionary as an essential component for data entry
• use the basic functions of SPSS
• manually enter data from paper forms
• import data into SPSS from an Excel file
• prepare data for reporting and/or analysis by cleaning, editing and modifying data
• generate summary reports, tables and charts
• apply some basic statistical concepts
• conduct preliminary statistical analyses and interpret the results
• save the necessary files generated by SPSS
• automate data analysis and presentation components.

Content

This course covers the following topics:

Diverse data definition and input/import

• Data types: identify whether data are string (text) or numeric (nominal, ordinal, continuous)
• Develop a data dictionary

SPSS data editor: data view and variable view

• Menus and toolbars
• Manual data entry
• Data import from external source

Data modification

• Identify and correct data entry errors
• Modify data: recode, compute, split file, select cases

Data presentation

• Basic tables, reports and charts

Data analysis

• Basic statistical concepts and terminology (mean and standard deviation, p values)
• Basic statistical tests (t-test, chi square)

Intended audience

This course is suitable for you if:

• you do not have any prior SPSS or statistical experience
• you require a refresher in SPSS.

Prerequisites

Experience with Windows-based applications such as Microsoft Word or Excel is assumed.

Delivery style

• Computer-based workshop held in a computer lab on University premises.
• Coursework consists of PowerPoint presentations followed by practical exercises.

Materials

You will be provided with a link to access and download your eBook prior to class.

Additional information

Please bring a USB flash drive to class in order to make a copy of your work and relevant class materials.