spss syntax introduction
TRANSCRIPT
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Introduction to Using SPSSCommand Files
Joel P. Wiesen, [email protected]
31th Annual IPMAAC Conference
St. Louis, MOJune 13, 2007
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Outline
Overview
Some command syntax details
Examples of command files Tips
Exercises
Review Q&A
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Overview
Two ways to use SPSS
Pros and Cons of each type of use
Quick review of SPSS windows How to write command files
How to save a command file
How to run a command file
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Two Ways to Use SPSS
Drop-down menus
Point-and-click
Widely used Fraught with problems
Tedious for long analyses
Command syntax files
Not commonly taught in college
Provides more functionality
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Pros and Cons
EasierHarderLong analyses
YesNoAll procedures
EasierHarderDocumentation
EasierHarderDebuggingHarderEasierLearning curve
EasierHarderRe-running
Command FileMenuFunctionality
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Quick Review of SPSS Windows
Data editor
See data
Transform variables
Output
Results from commands, including tables, charts
Chart editor
Can edit graphs
Syntax editor
Write and execute SPSS commands
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How To Write Command Files
Paste from drop-down menus
Menu choices generate syntax automatically
Modify previous command file Write commands in text file
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Creating Syntax From Menus
Use drop-down menus but do not run
Choose PASTE
Creates a syntax window Save command file
Run pasted commands
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How to Save a Command File
File-Save
File extension: .SPS
Can use same name for data and sps files
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How to Run a Command File
Open command file
File-Open
Click on .sps file in Windows Explorer Highlight all or part of command file
Run commands in one of several ways
Click on right arrow
Control-R
Run-all
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Some Command Syntax Details
What is a command file?
Command syntax structure
Example of an SPSS command Some details of commands
Common and important commands
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What is a Command File?
An ASCII text file
Contains SPSS commands written out
AKA syntax file
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Command Syntax Structure
Name of command May include some variable names
May included some command options
Name of subcommand May include variable names or command
options
Slashes used to start subcommands Can continue over multiple lines
End command with a period or blank line
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Example of an SPSS Command
GET DATA/ TYPE=XLS/ FILE='c:\path\file_name.xls'.
This is one command
With two subcommands
SPSS tries to use the Excel column headsas the variable names
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Some Details of Commands
Each command begins on a new line
Variable names cannot be abbreviated
Command may span lines Max line length: 80 characters
Period or blank line terminates command
Command syntax is case insensitive
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Common & Important Commands
Commands allow you to
Get data
Manipulate data List data
Do statistical analyses
Save data
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Most Important Command
Asterisk
Identifies a comment line
End comment with period or blank line
* This is an example of a comment line.
* The next two lines correct data errors.
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Compute Command
Used to change values
COMPUTE perscore = (score/60).
COMPUTE composite =var1 + var2 + var3.
COMPUTE average = composite / 3.
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IF
IF (form = "A") zscore = (score 44.5)/6.5
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Create Ranks
RANK VARIABLES = written oral ppt (A).
Default is to create new variables
rwritten roral
rppt
Can specify names of new variables
(A) means ascending
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Save SPSS Data File
SAVE OUTFILE = 'c:\path\filename.sav'.
SAVE OUTFILE = 'c:\path\filename.sav'/ DROP ssn.
SAVE OUTFILE = 'c:\path\filename.sav'/ KEEP id lastname grade.
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TEMPORARY
TEMPORARY.SELECT IF (eeo_gp = 1).LIST id written oral ppt /CASES = 15.
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SORT
SORT CASES BY grade.
LIST id lastname firstname grade.
SORT CASES BY grade (A).
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Variable Label
VARIABLE LABELfailcol 'failed color vision'.
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Value Label
VALUE LABEL eeo_gp 0 Unknown'1 'Non-Minority' 2 'Minority' .
VALUE LABEL eeo_gp
0 'Unknown'1 'Non-Minority'
2 'Minority' .
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Save Non-SPSS Data File
SAVE TRANSLATE OUTFILE ='c:\path\filename.xls' /TYPE=XLS/ KEEP id gender eeo_gp age compos
/FIELDNAMES.
This creates an Excel file with variable
names for column heads.
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Statistical Commands
Means
Graph
Correlation Many other commands
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Means Command
MEANS TABLES= oral written BY eeo_gp.
This minimal command will work
Commands have default settings
MEANS TABLES= oral written BY eeo_gp
/ CELLS MEAN COUNT STDDEV.
This command is more specific.
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Graph
GRAPH /SCATTERPLOT(BIVAR)= oralWITH written/MISSING=LISTWISE
/TITLE= 'Title goes here''line 2 of title goes here
/SUBTITLE= 'sub title goes here
/FOOTNOTE= 'footnote goes here'line 2 footnote goes here'.
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Correlation
CORRELATIONS/VARIABLES= oral written ppt/PRINT=TWOTAIL NOSIG
/STATISTICS DESCRIPTIVES/MISSING=PAIRWISE .
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Command File Example
SPSS Program to Grade a Test
(See separate pdf file.)
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Tips for Using Command Files
Documenting
Debugging
Use of capitalization Separate the major aspects of analyses
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Document Your Files
File name
Date created
Author Log of changes over time
Outline file
Visual divisions of file into sections
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Debugging
Debugging individual commands
Debugging command logic
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Debugging Command Logic
Look at data at various points in the file
List data
Do crosstabulations Do analyses in another software package
Excel
SAS
Minitab
R
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Use of Capitalization
Helpful convention
SPSS commands in upper case
Variable names in lower case
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Separate the Major Aspects of
Analyses Read and save
Verify data is read correctly
Groom data Transform variables
Change numbers 1 to 4 to letters A to D
Add variables
Name of data set
Analyze data
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Name Various Files
Use one basic name
Keep track of all files related to one project
For example: IPMAAC_2007.dat
Read_IPMAAC_2007.sps
Groom_IPMAAC_2007.sps
Analyze_IPMAAC_2007.sps
Similar system to name output files
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Display Commands in Output
Do this through menu
Edit Options
Select the Viewer or Draft Viewer tab Check the Display commands in the log
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SPSS Training Resources
SPSS built-in tutorial
Help-Tutorial-Working with syntax
SPSS help menu Help - Command Syntax Reference
Full syntax options
Gives examples
States limitations
SPSS website
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SPSS Help
When cursor is in a command
Click Syntax Help button to find out what
subcommands and keywords are available for
the current command
If the cursor is not in a command
Clicking the Syntax Help button to display an
alphabetical list of commands You can select the one you want.
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Other Training Resources
On line tutorials for SPSS
Many from colleges
Listserves
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Exercise 1
Fetch data from an Excel file
Get average of oral and written scores
Save data to an SPSS .sav file
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Exercise 2
Get data from an Excel file
Get average of oral and written z-scores
Save data to an SPSS .sav file
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Review
Pros and cons of drop-down menu
How to use command files
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Drop-Down Menus
Easy to get started
Unwieldy for longer analyses
Easy to make undetected errors Hard to proof analyses
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How to Use Command Files
Create files
Edit files
Save files Name files
Run files
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Summary
Start using SPSS drop-down menus
Next, paste menu commands
Write command files as soon as possible This enables you to
Do longer, more complex analyses
Detect errors and proof analyses
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Final Thoughts
Look at SPSS programs written by others
Become acquainted with SPSS commands Learn details of commands you use often
Copies of this presentation are available at:
http://ipmaac.org
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Q&As
The floor is open
Questions
Comments