SPSS Reference Book Recommendations

[Craig Johnson]

I've been using SAS for the last three years and am moving back to SPSS for a new job.  I'm looking for a few reference books.......sorry I like paper for references. :) 

1) A SPSS Base Syntax Reference Guide for SPSS 20

2) Functions

3) Macros

4) Python & SPSS

Any recommendations on what's good and what's not would be helpful. 

Thanks

[Rick Oliver-3]

Well, for the first one, you might try the "Command Syntax Reference" installed with the product.

And for the fourth one, you might try "Programming and Data Management with SPSS 20", located here:
https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/mydeveloperworks/wikis/home/wiki/We70df3195ec8_4f95_9773_42e448fa9029/page/Books%20and%20Articles?lang=en

Rick Oliver
Senior Information Developer
IBM Business Analytics (SPSS)
E-mail: [hidden email]




From:        Craig J <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email]
Date:        05/15/2012 12:54 PM
Subject:        SPSS Reference Book Recommendations
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

I've been using SAS for the last three years and am moving back to SPSS for a new job.  I'm looking for a few reference books.......sorry I like paper for references. :) 

1) A SPSS Base Syntax Reference Guide for SPSS 20
2) Functions
3) Macros
4) Python & SPSS

Any recommendations on what's good and what's not would be helpful. 

Thanks

[David Marso]

Welcome to the dark side ;-)  errr I mean the other way around ;??
What's the matter?  Do you hate trees or something?
After you get your mitts on the Syntax Reference Guide you can get your bearings by
1. Carefully reading the section "Universals" after reading it 3-4 times everything will make complete sense.  Might want to have a good bottle of Single Malt Scotch on hand.
2. Read Appendix B.  Commands and Program States... Something of a buzz kill and a total snooze but essential information!
3. Macros:  Read DEFINE !ENDDEFINE and then Appendix D.  Unfortunately most of the examples presented are utterly trivial but they will get you started.  
Simple rules to remember:  Macro is as dumb as a brick (or worse).  
It can evaluate arguments, simple !DO (loop), !CONCAT (to build syntax), !IF (conditionally process syntax), simple parsing !SUBSTR, !INDEX , !HEAD !TAIL...
Common mistake of beginners is to believe it has any concept of math or values of variables.
!LET !A !EQ 1.
!LET !B=!A + 1. ****NO****.
Pythonistas will argue that MACRO is a dead language and it is a waste of time to learn it.
Since I have been using them for about 20 years they are second nature and my version does not support Python.  YMMV. Macros are PAINFUL to debug...
Python?  No further comment..
4.  I would review the MATRIX language for any sort of custom statistical programming you may require.
-------------------

Craig Johnson wrote

I've been using SAS for the last three years and am moving back to SPSS for
a new job.  I'm looking for a few reference books.......sorry I like paper
for references. :)

1) A SPSS Base Syntax Reference Guide for SPSS 20
2) Functions
3) Macros
4) Python & SPSS

Any recommendations on what's good and what's not would be helpful.

Thanks

[G David Garson]

I have a series of mostly SPSS, mostly free ebooks and emonographs on
statistical topics at www.statisticalassociates.com.  FYI
Dave


On 5/15/2012 1:46 PM, Craig J wrote:

> I've been using SAS for the last three years and am moving back to
> SPSS for a new job.  I'm looking for a few reference books.......sorry
> I like paper for references. :)
>
> 1) A SPSS Base Syntax Reference Guide for SPSS 20
> 2) Functions
> 3) Macros
> 4) Python & SPSS
>
> Any recommendations on what's good and what's not would be helpful.
>
> Thanks
>

--

_________________________________________________________

G. David Garson
Editor, Social Science Computer Review
School of Public and International Affairs
North Carolina State University, Campus Box #8102
Raleigh, NC 27695-8102

For Fedex and other express mail add:
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Tel. [phone]
Fax: [phone]

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[Joseph Williams]

Not sure how introductory a resource you want, but David field's 'introduction to statistics using spss' it's meant to teach an introductory course in statistics using spss (he's a psychologist by training) and I've found it useful.

On May 15, 2012 6:52 PM, "G David Garson" <[hidden email]> wrote:

I have a series of mostly SPSS, mostly free ebooks and emonographs on
statistical topics at www.statisticalassociates.com.  FYI
Dave


On 5/15/2012 1:46 PM, Craig J wrote:

I've been using SAS for the last three years and am moving back to
SPSS for a new job.  I'm looking for a few reference books.......sorry
I like paper for references. :)

1) A SPSS Base Syntax Reference Guide for SPSS 20
2) Functions
3) Macros
4) Python & SPSS

Any recommendations on what's good and what's not would be helpful.

Thanks

--

_________________________________________________________

G. David Garson
Editor, Social Science Computer Review
School of Public and International Affairs
North Carolina State University, Campus Box #8102
Raleigh, NC 27695-8102

For Fedex and other express mail add:
212 Caldwell Hall, Hillsborough Street

Tel. <a href="tel:[phone]" value="[phone]" target="_blank">1-919-616-2273
Fax: <a href="tel:[phone]" value="[phone]" target="_blank">1-919-515-7333

Email [hidden email]

________________________________________________________

=====================
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

[Eero Olli]

Hi Craig,

I would personally never have managed properly without two books:

Hetland, Magnus Lie. (2005) Beginning Python : From Novice to Professional: Apress.  (a great introduction!)

IBM SPSS Statistics 20 Command Syntax Reference. (2011)  (pp. 2502). (I understand that you would like to have the reference books in paper, but there is nothing that comes close to the 2500 page manual included with SPSS. Particularly the first 120 pages covering introduction and universals, are really helpful if you know SAS)

Sincerely,
Eero Olli



Eero Olli
Senioradviser at the Equality- and Anti-Discrimination Ombud                                Phone: [phone]
Mail: POB 8048 Dep, 0031 Oslo
Visits: Mariboesgate 13, Oslo                                                                                                                   www.ldo.no




On 5/15/2012 1:46 PM, Craig J wrote:
I've been using SAS for the last three years and am moving back to
SPSS for a new job.  I'm looking for a few reference books.......sorry
I like paper for references. :)

1) A SPSS Base Syntax Reference Guide for SPSS 20
2) Functions
3) Macros
4) Python & SPSS

Any recommendations on what's good and what's not would be helpful.

Thanks

________________________________________________________

=====================
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

=====================
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