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Re: If you were a new user of syntax...

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Anthony Babinec

Re: If you were a new user of syntax...

Here are a few items.

- Use PASTE from dialog box to paste to syntax window.
- Use Data > Define Variable Properties as an alternative to the
Variable View. An advantage of Define Variable Properties
is that it generates syntax to the Log.
- Copy from log to syntax window or to text editor (Notepad++).
- Learn the command equivalents to the Variable Properties in the Variable
View.
- Learn the DATASET commands: DATASET NAME, DATASET ACTIVATE, DATASET CLOSE,
DATASET COPY, DATASET DECLARE, DATASET DISPLAY. These provide syntax
equivalents to opening, closing, and activating windows.

Tony Babinec

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bdates

Re: If you were a new user of syntax...

OK...my two cents' worth. I'd start very simply. 1) Get file, get data. 2) Data List...(all variations) 3) Save outfile with keep and drop. 4) Dataset...all variations. 5) Select cases and variables 6) Aggregate...(all variations). 7) Match files. 8) Cases to vars and vars to cases. 9) Lead, lag, and csum. 10) Variable labels and value labels. 11) Recode. 12) Syntax for legacy charts. 13) Compute command with examples. 14) Basic stat tests, e.g., chi-square, t-test, etc.

I'll have more for intermediate and advanced training.

Brian

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion <[hidden email]> on behalf of Anthony Babinec <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2019 2:46:34 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: If you were a new user of syntax...

===================== To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to [hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the command. To leave the list, send the command SIGNOFF SPSSX-L For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command INFO REFCARD

John F Hall

Re: If you were a new user of syntax...

For absolute beginners in sociology, social admin., politics etc., and depending on timetabled hours,

I would do the early sessions in something like this order, but for such students some topics may need more than one session. Repetition is important, as is saving their work at each stage (or every 5-10 lines for syntax).

2a) data list 2b) frequencies, crosstabs 3) save

1a) get (or double click) 1b) variable level 1c) missing values 2b) frequencies crosstabs 3) save

10a) variable labels 2b) frequencies crosstabs 3) save

10b) value labels 2b) frequencies crosstabs 3) save

11a) recode 2b) frequencies crosstabs 3) save

11b) compute 2b) frequencies crosstabs 3) save

11c) frequencies /bar /his, /percentiles, /sta mean, std

11d) mult response /frequencies /var /tables.

14a) 2-way crosstabs chi-square

14b) 3-way crosstabs, elaboration

14c) means, t-test

14d) means, oneway

15) regression and correlation (with scatterplot)

Never needed to teach 4, 6, 8, 9 to beginners, but worth looking at GUI for charts, especially when comparing distributions of eg "sexism" by sex, then controlling for another variable.

John F Hall MA (Cantab) Dip Ed (Dunelm)

[Retired academic survey researcher]

Email: [hidden email]

Website: Journeys in Survey Research

Course: Survey Analysis Workshop (SPSS)

Research: Subjective Social Indicators (Quality of Life)

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Dates, Brian
Sent: 30 March 2019 20:29
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: If you were a new user of syntax...

I'll have more for intermediate and advanced training.

Brian

John F Hall

Re: If you were a new user of syntax...

In reply to this post by bdates

Just found the original syllabus and specimen assessment for my 1991-92 course. Apologies for length, but still applies today.

The Polytechnic of North London

Faculty of Environmental and Social Studies

Post Qualifying Scheme

Level: Postgraduate (15 points at CNAA Master level)

Module Number: SR501

Module Title: Survey Analysis Workshop

Location: Policy Studies and Social Research

Module Convenor: John Hall (Director, Survey Research Unit)

Study Requirement:

6-9 hours per week of which 3 hours will involve timetabled classes (normally 1 hour instruction followed by 2 hour workshop/discussion). 3-6 hours should be used for private study and/or keyboard experience and follow-up exercises.

Module Objectives:

By the end of the module you will:

a) acquire practical and intellectual skills in data management and statistical analysis of single variables (univariate), two variables (bivariate) and many variables (multivariate)

b) be familiar with the language and logic of data analysis (with an emphasis on explanation as well as description) and the interface between theory and data

c) be able critically to assess published reports which include analysis of survey and similar data

d) become sufficiently confident and proficient to tackle your own research projects in college, on placement and in employment, or as a basis for more advanced methods

e) understand how to code data from questionnaire surveys to a standard data layout and how to enter them into a file

f) understand how to define data and associated dictionary information for entry into SPSS-X and save this in a system file for future use

g) understand how to prepare and use supporting documentation

h) acquire a working knowledge of the Vax control language, VMS, and the screen editor, EDT

j) enjoy a distinct advantage in the employment market

k) discover that survey analysis is fun and you can do it!

Module Assessment:

The course will be assessed by three components:

Component 1: Data Capture and Documentation (20%)

Component 2: Analysis and Report (60%)

Component 3: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics (20%)

The first assignment will be to select from a British Social Attitudes Survey a topic of interest to yourself, to select questions relevant to your topic, and to use SPSS to read the relevant survey data and construct a "system file" with missing value specifications, labelling, and a frequency count, together with appropriate user-documentation. (20%)

The second will be to conduct an analysis of your chosen topic and to write a short report on your findings. (60%)

The third will consist of a set of exercises involving data management and descriptive and inferential statistics, to be designed, conducted and interpreted within a limited time. (20%)

All work for assessment must be submitted (preferably typed) double-spaced and single-sided on A4 size paper including SPSS output which must be burst before stapling and clearly marked with your correct assessment number.

For components one and two, you should prepare an outline proposal identifying your research topic and listing the variables (and related questions/items) you propose to use and your initial ideas for the line of enquiry you intend to pursue. This should be submitted on the official proposal form not later than 4pm on Friday 13th March 1992.

Assessment date(s):

Component one must be submitted not later than 4pm on Friday 27^th March 1992

Components two and three must be submitted not later than 4pm on Friday 19 June 1992

All three components must have been submitted before any marks can be considered by the Examination Board.

There is no provision for extensions. Work submitted late must be accompanied by a statement of the reason(s) for lateness and, if appropriate, copies of supporting evidence.

Study Programme:

This course is heavily skill-based, but with an emphasis throughout on logic and professional standards. Statistics as such are not taught, although the procedures for producing them will be used and their rationale and results explained (in non-mathematical language!)

SR501: Survey Analysis Workshop Assessment 1991/92

The course will be assessed by three components:

Component 1: Data Capture and Documentation (20%)

Component 2: Analysis and Report (60%)

Component 3: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics (20%)

The second will be to conduct an analysis of your chosen topic and to write a short report on your findings. (60%)

The third will consist of a set of exercises involving data management and descriptive and inferential statistics, to be designed, conducted and interpreted within a limited time. (20%)

All work for assessment must be submitted (preferably typed) double spaced and single sided on A4 size paper including SPSS output which must be burst before stapling and clearly marked with your correct assessment number.

Assessment date(s):

Component one must be submitted not later than 4pm on Friday 27^th March 1992

Components two and three must be submitted not later than 4pm on Friday 19 June 1992

All three components must have been submitted before any marks can be considered by the Examination Board.

There is no provision for extensions. Work submitted late must be accompanied by a statement of the reason(s) for lateness and, if appropriate, copies of supporting evidence.

Component 1: Data Capture and Documentation (20%)

In the following exercise, think in terms of variables for analysis, especially dependent and independent variables, bearing in mind that the second component will involve using the resultant system files for analysis and writing a report.

Choose a topic from the 1989 British Social Attitudes Survey. Select at least 10, but not more than 20 variables, including attitudes and beliefs, and items which might affect variation in your dependent variables (eg attitudes to private education or NHS facilities could well be affected by experience or usage of such provision). Appropriate demographic variables should be included, as should variables from both interviewer and self-completion sections of the questionnaire. You may interpret "variable" as sometimes comprising more than one data item (eg for attitude scores or for multiple response questions)

1. Using SPSS-X, create a system file containing only those cases necessary to your analysis, plus all your selected variables, together with missing value specifications and appropriate variable and value labels. Include a document.

2. Submit the final version of your SPSS-X command file, together with your user documentation (if any).

3. Display variable labels and document. Produce frequency counts in general mode for all variables in your file.

The data are on file ASS:BSA89.DAT and there are 23 records per case.

The coding for open-ended questions and for the letter-coded income questions is not given on the questionnaire. See Brook, Taylor and Prior, Technical Report (SCPR, 1990).

Some questions are capable of more than one answer (multiple response) and special facilities are available for analysing them. If you wish to use such questions, check first, as the coding schemes vary in complexity (eg 63b, 84f (open-ended) 27b, 33a-c, 41b-d, 67, 907b, 914 (precoded)) and you may need help.

There are no multiple response items in the self-completion questionnaire for Version A. Version B has them in qq 4, 7 , 15.

In general, single column fields have 8 (DK) 9 (N/A) as missing, and two column fields 98 and 99. Some variables have values 0 or -1 which need to be treated as missing. Codes 7 and 97 tend to be used for "Other uncodable" and should be treated as missing. Separate documents are supplied giving details of income codes and of data for additional variables entered on record 23.

Component 2: Analysis and Report (60%)

Write a report of not less than 2,000 and not more than 3,000 words (excluding figures and tables) to cover the following:

Introduction to the topic chosen and variables selected for your first component, including any preliminary hypotheses or ideas you had about what you expected to find or prove (or disprove) and referring to any relevant literature.

What analyses you performed on the data and why.

What your main findings were.

Methodological comments and insights.

Use the SPSS system file you generated for your first component, but amend any errors or omissions you may have made. Feel free to use any additional variables you think you need (e.g. for multiple response questions). Try to keep your final analysis simple by restricting yourself to a few key variables, if necessary by constructing scales or summary types.

There is no need to copy tables by hand into your report: just hand in your final selection as SPSS output, making sure that the tables or figures are clearly numbered and titled. You must also clearly indicate in the text which table or figure you are referring to (e.g. See Table 4 or Table 10 here) Tables do not count towards the 1,500-2,000 words needed in the report. Do not include more than ten tables.

Component three: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics (20%)

For this component you will have to design, execute and interpret statistical analyses using SPSS-X. The format will be that of an examination paper which you will be required to complete within a limited time. The paper will be distributed on 21 May 1992.

SPECIMEN ONLY 1992 format, but using 1986 data instead of 1989

Component three: Descriptive and inferential statistics (20%)

You may use abbreviated forms of SPSS-X commands and subcommands. All answers to be on A4 paper, including SPSS-X output, burst, with banner pages attached. No answer to be longer than two A4 sides.

File ASS:NOPROT.SYS contains the following variables from the 1986 British Social Attitudes Survey:

SEX REGION PARTY EDQUAL V2018 V2019 V2020 V2021 V2023 AGE

File ASS:XMAS.SYS contains details of numbers of injury causing accidents in 41 police authorities in Dec 1986 INJ86 and in Dec 1987 INJ87

Answer ALL questions

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Section A (Technical)

Question A1

Using file ASS:NOPROT.SYS write a command file in SPSS to perform the following analysis. Construct a score NOPROT with a range of 0-20 from items v2018 to v2023 and recode it with four groups (0-3)(4-6)(7-9)(10-20) into NOPROTGP. Recode AGE into AGEGROUP (18-29, 30-44, 45-59, 60+) and EDQUAL into EDGROUP (GCE O-level and above, CSE2-5 and none) and leaving out foreign qualifications. Write appropriate variable and value labels and take account of missing values.

Produce the following output:

frequency counts (in general mode)

NOPROT with a histogram overlaid by a normal distribution; the mean, standard deviation and standard error; the lower and upper quartiles and the median.

NOPROTGP EDGROUP AGEGROUP

crosstabs (with row percent and chi-square)

Dependent variable: NOPROTGP (column variable)

Independent variable: SEX (row variable)

First order test variable: AGEGROUP

Second order test variable: EDGROUP

means (in crossbreak format)

Dependent variable: NOPROT

Independent variable: SEX

First order test variable: AGEGROUP

Second order test variable: EDGROUP

t-test

Dependent variable: NOPROT

Independent variable: PARTY (Labour vs SDP/Lib)

oneway (with descriptive statistics and tukey range check)

Dependent variable: NOPROT

Independent variable: REGION

Question A2

Using file ASS:XMAS.SYS write a command file in SPSS to find the mean number of injury causing accidents each year and plot the 1987 figures against the 1986 figures in regression format.

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Section B (Interpretation)

Question B1

Write a short account of the effects of sex, age and educational level on anti-protest attitudes using either the crosstabs output or the means/crossbreak output.

Construct an appropriate summary table using either percent "Definitely not allow" or mean anti-protest score.

Question B2

Choose TWO of the following inferential statistics topics and, from the SPSS output for section A, explain what the test is, what the technical and statistical terms are and why the test was used for these data.

What do the results tell you?

chi-square (but not Likelihood ratio or Mantel-Haenszel)

t-test

oneway analysis of variance

linear regression

(Draw an approximate regression line on the plot and comment generally on your results. What would be your best estimate of the number of injury causing accidents in 1987 for an authority which had 300 in 1986?)

At least seven of the students who took this course (or its undergraduate equivalent) now hold full Professorial Chairs in UK universities, so we must have got something right.

John F Hall

[Retired academic survey researcher]

IBM-SPSS Academic Author 9900074

Email: [hidden email]

Website: http://surveyresearch.weebly.com/

SPSS course: http://surveyresearch.weebly.com/1-survey-analysis-workshop-spss.html

Research: http://surveyresearch.weebly.com/3-subjective-social-indicators-quality-of-life.html