SPSS Course: Introduction

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

COVID-19 update: arrangement of our courses

We are now delivering courses online and in-person. Please check the delivery format of each class before enrolling.

Please note that course materials (excluding prescribed texts) are shared electronically within 48 hours of course commencement. 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

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

It is assumed you have experience with Windows-based applications such as Microsoft Word or Excel.

Delivery mode

Face-to-face, presenter-taught training using your own device

Delivery style

Coursework consists of PowerPoint presentations followed by practical exercises. Classes run in a classroom and you need to bring your own device with SPSS installed. You should ensure it is fully charged as access to power is limited. Please note that the University does not carry any responsibility for your lost, stolen, or damaged devices whilst on the University premises.

Materials

Course materials are provided electronically

Before the course

SPSS software is required and a 30 day free trial can be downloaded free of charge from the IBM Store. Click 'Try SPSS Statistics for free', then create an account to log in.