SPSSX Discussion

SPSS code books and variables

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Donna Alden-Bugden

SPSS code books and variables

I'm new to the list
Does anyone know where there are free tutorials for developing a codebook in SPSS...especially for likert scales. I have several surveys that are likert scales and I can't figure out how to set up the variables for the codebook. Other tutorials would be appreciated...not really basic tutorials but slightly advanced.

Donna
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

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Georg Maubach-2

AW: SPSS code books and variables

Hi Donna,

I would recommand the following

http://www.upa.pdx.edu/IOA/newsom/da1/default.htm
http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/spss/
http://www.spsstools.net/
http://delicious.com/StatComp/SPSS
http://www.indiana.edu/~statmath/support/bydoc/

HTH

Best regards

Georg Maubach

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] Im Auftrag von Donna Alden-Bugden
Gesendet: Freitag, 28. August 2009 07:30
An: [hidden email]
Betreff: SPSS code books and variables

I'm new to the list
Does anyone know where there are free tutorials for developing a codebook in SPSS...especially for likert scales. I have several surveys that are likert scales and I can't figure out how to set up the variables for the codebook. Other tutorials would be appreciated...not really basic tutorials but slightly advanced.

Donna
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

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

=====================
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[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
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John F Hall

Re: AW: SPSS code books and variables

Donna

Are you a student or a researcher? Not quite sure what you want to produce, or how versed you are in SPSS. I would have thought some sort of frequency count would suffice, provided you have decent labelling in your dictionary. I'm not a great fan of drop-down menus, so tend to use syntax for most SPSS jobs, thus

frequencies <type in your list of variable names, varx to vary or whatever>

For example, using Fifth Form Survey (a data set downloadable from my webpage) open a new syntax file and type:

freq v248 to v250. Then run it, but it yields no control over output, unless you edit the pivot table.

Q.33a Women's fulfilment is kids

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly disagree	33	31.4	31.4	31.4
	Disagree	41	39.0	39.0	70.5
	Agree	20	19.0	19.0	89.5
	Agree strongly	11	10.5	10.5	100.0
	Total	105	100.0	100.0

Q.33b Women should pay on dates

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly disagree	15	14.3	14.3	14.3
	Disagree	24	22.9	22.9	37.1
	Agree	45	42.9	42.9	80.0
	Agree strongly	21	20.0	20.0	100.0
	Total	105	100.0	100.0

Q.33c Half top jobs reserved for women

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly disagree	19	18.1	18.1	18.1
	Disagree	38	36.2	36.2	54.3
	Agree	37	35.2	35.2	89.5
	Agree strongly	11	10.5	10.5	100.0
	Total	105	100.0	100.0

...or for a condensed version (quicker using using drop-down menus and you can control cell contents, in this case valid percent only, with no decimal places)

analyze

...tables.

..tables of frequencies

Q.33a Women's fulfilment is kids

Q.33b Women should pay on dates

Q.33c Half top jobs reserved for women

%

%

%

Strongly disagree

31

14

18

Disagree

39

23

36

Agree

19

43

35

Agree strongly

10

20

10

(cumbersome in syntax as below)

TABLES

    /FORMAT BLANK MISSING('.') /TABLES

    (LABELS) BY

    ( v248 + v249 )

    /STATISTICS

    CPCT ((PCT5.0) '%' ) .

I'll have a think about this and see if I can find a way to produce a table with variables down the side and frequencies across. I'm not into macros, but I'm sure someone else is. Raynald Levesque (www.spsstools.net below) once wrote one in response to a plea from me for SPSS to produce elaboration tables. We used to be able to do this by recoding a range of values to 100 and everthing else to 0 then using means and subcommand /crossbreak, but the latter is no longer available.

Meanwhile have a look at:

http://independent.academia.edu/documents/0031/6942/Navigation_guide_to_learning_materials_and_SPSS.doc

for my entry level tutorials on survey data and SPSS (gentle approach, fully worked examples with full set of screen dumps).

If by codebook you mean a user-manual, then have a look at the one I did for a small survey by some of my students:

http://independent.academia.edu/documents/0009/8524/Playground_to_Politics_Users__Manual.pdf

...which could act as a model for you. I used it for teaching later waves of students. The data set used above is downloadable as a saved SPSS file from the same survey if you want to play with it.

If you can send me a copy of (the relevant partsof) your questionnaire, I may be able to offer more advice.

John Hall

----- Original Message -----

From: [hidden email]

To: [hidden email]

Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 2:30 PM

Subject: AW: SPSS code books and variables

Hi Donna,

I would recommand the following

http://www.upa.pdx.edu/IOA/newsom/da1/default.htm
http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/spss/
http://www.spsstools.net/
http://delicious.com/StatComp/SPSS
http://www.indiana.edu/~statmath/support/bydoc/

HTH

Best regards

Georg Maubach

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] Im Auftrag von Donna Alden-Bugden
Gesendet: Freitag, 28. August 2009 07:30
An: [hidden email]
Betreff: SPSS code books and variables

I'm new to the list
Does anyone know where there are free tutorials for developing a codebook in SPSS...especially for likert scales. I have several surveys that are likert scales and I can't figure out how to set up the variables for the codebook. Other tutorials would be appreciated...not really basic tutorials but slightly advanced.

Donna
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

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

=====================
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command. To leave the list, send the command
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For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
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Bruce Weaver

Re: SPSS code books and variables

Administrator

In reply to this post by Donna Alden-Bugden

Donna Alden-Bugden wrote

I'm new to the list
Does anyone know where there are free tutorials for developing a codebook in SPSS...especially for likert scales. I have several surveys that are likert scales and I can't figure out how to set up the variables for the codebook. Other tutorials would be appreciated...not really basic tutorials but slightly advanced.

Donna
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

--
Bruce Weaver
bweaver@lakeheadu.ca
http://sites.google.com/a/lakeheadu.ca/bweaver/

"When all else fails, RTFM."

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
1. My Hotmail account is not monitored regularly. To send me an e-mail, please use the address shown above.
2. The SPSSX Discussion forum on Nabble is no longer linked to the SPSSX-L listserv administered by UGA (https://listserv.uga.edu/).

Cleland, Patricia (EDU)

Re: SPSS code books and variables

In reply to this post by Donna Alden-Bugden

Donna

By codebook, do you mean something that looks like this?

sex Index: 0 Respondent's Sex
Measurement Level: nominal Type: numeric Format: F1.0
Missing Values:
Value Labels and Counts
1 Male
636
2 Female
881

race Index: 1 Race of Respondent
Measurement Level: nominal Type: numeric Format: F1.0
Missing Values:
Value Labels and Counts
1 White
1264
2 Black
204
3 Other
49

region Index: 2 Region of the United States
Measurement Level: nominal Type: numeric Format: F8.2
Missing Values:
Value Labels and Counts
1 North East
679
2 South East 415
3 West
423

(This is the codebook (aka data dictionary) for the first three
variables from the 1999 General Social Survey.sav)

If so, it can be generated easily in Python if you already have a data
file in which all the variables have value and var labels, missing
values, etc.

Once you download and install Python and the Python plug in, simply
download the Codebook module from Developer Central
(http://www.spss.com/devcentral/index.cfm?pg=downloadDet&dId=80) and run
the following syntax. No knowledge of Python is required.

* Print file name, number of vars in file and var information in file
order.
* Print statistics-counts for each value and means.
* To print the var info in alpha order change 'alphaorder=False' to
'alphaorder=True'.

BEGIN PROGRAM.
import spss, spssaux, DisplayDict
print ' '
print "Data Dictionary for:", spssaux.GetDatasetInfo()
print ' '
print "Number of Variables:", spss.GetVariableCount()
print ' '
DisplayDict.dictionary(alphaorder=False, stats='all')
END PROGRAM.

If you don't need the stats for each variable, simply omit "stats='all'
".

Thanks to Jon Peck for the module and for the syntax.

Pat

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Donna Alden-Bugden
Sent: August 28, 2009 1:30 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [SPSSX-L] SPSS code books and variables

I'm new to the list
Does anyone know where there are free tutorials for developing a
codebook in SPSS...especially for likert scales. I have several surveys
that are likert scales and I can't figure out how to set up the
variables for the codebook. Other tutorials would be appreciated...not
really basic tutorials but slightly advanced.

Donna
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

=====================
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
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For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
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Oliver, Richard

Re: SPSS code books and variables

If you have release 17 or later, you can use the CODEBOOK command, which is also available as a dialog from menus: Analyze>Reports>Codebook

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Cleland, Patricia (EDU)
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 11:05 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: SPSS code books and variables

Donna

By codebook, do you mean something that looks like this?

sex Index: 0 Respondent's Sex
Measurement Level: nominal Type: numeric Format: F1.0
Missing Values:
Value Labels and Counts
1 Male
636
2 Female
881

race Index: 1 Race of Respondent
Measurement Level: nominal Type: numeric Format: F1.0
Missing Values:
Value Labels and Counts
1 White
1264
2 Black
204
3 Other
49

region Index: 2 Region of the United States
Measurement Level: nominal Type: numeric Format: F8.2
Missing Values:
Value Labels and Counts
1 North East
679
2 South East 415
3 West
423

(This is the codebook (aka data dictionary) for the first three
variables from the 1999 General Social Survey.sav)

If so, it can be generated easily in Python if you already have a data
file in which all the variables have value and var labels, missing
values, etc.

Once you download and install Python and the Python plug in, simply
download the Codebook module from Developer Central
(http://www.spss.com/devcentral/index.cfm?pg=downloadDet&dId=80) and run
the following syntax. No knowledge of Python is required.

* Print file name, number of vars in file and var information in file
order.
* Print statistics-counts for each value and means.
* To print the var info in alpha order change 'alphaorder=False' to
'alphaorder=True'.

BEGIN PROGRAM.
import spss, spssaux, DisplayDict
print ' '
print "Data Dictionary for:", spssaux.GetDatasetInfo()
print ' '
print "Number of Variables:", spss.GetVariableCount()
print ' '
DisplayDict.dictionary(alphaorder=False, stats='all')
END PROGRAM.

If you don't need the stats for each variable, simply omit "stats='all'
".

Thanks to Jon Peck for the module and for the syntax.

Pat

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Donna Alden-Bugden
Sent: August 28, 2009 1:30 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [SPSSX-L] SPSS code books and variables

I'm new to the list
Does anyone know where there are free tutorials for developing a
codebook in SPSS...especially for likert scales. I have several surveys
that are likert scales and I can't figure out how to set up the
variables for the codebook. Other tutorials would be appreciated...not
really basic tutorials but slightly advanced.

Donna
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

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

=====================
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
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For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
INFO REFCARD

Donna Alden-Bugden

Re: SPSS code books and variables

In reply to this post by Bruce Weaver

Thank you for all the comments from everyone...just going through them one
by one now

I have all the tools that I want to use including my demographic data sheet
but I want to know how to input each question into a codebook so that when I
get my survey's back I can enter the data into the data section and then
analyze the data after it is entered. I don't want to know how to analyze
the data, I need to enter the variables. I suppose the codebook is the same
as what would be what is called the variables view on SPSS 17. However, I
have likert scales that are ordinal but in the end they seem to appear as
scale variables by the person who owns the tool. Also the likert scale goes
like this

0-no interest
1
2
3
4
5 - moderate interest
6
7
8
9
10 - great interest

So how do I enter a variable that has 10 possible values but only labels for
3 of the values?
Also with some of the variables, I am unable to enter possible values as
when I click on values it asks me to enter a value and a label for each
possible value under that variable but it is a range....like Age...possible
values are 18-110, but i cannot enter this under values...
So perhaps it is a video on entering the information I need into the
variables view section...I think this is probably the more appropriate term
in SPSS

****************************************************************************
*****************
Donna L. Alden-Bugden, BSc, BScN, NP, MN (ANP), DNP-Student
NPCanada.ca - Promoting Nurse Practitioners in Canada
Family Nurse Practitioner - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Doctoral Student - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
[hidden email]
Alternate E-mail:
[hidden email] [hidden email] or [hidden email]
http://www.NPCanada.ca
****************************************************************************
*****************

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Bruce Weaver
Sent: August-28-09 10:43 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: SPSS code books and variables

Donna Alden-Bugden wrote:

>
> I'm new to the list
> Does anyone know where there are free tutorials for developing a codebook
> in SPSS...especially for likert scales. I have several surveys that are
> likert scales and I can't figure out how to set up the variables for the
> codebook. Other tutorials would be appreciated...not really basic
> tutorials but slightly advanced.
>
> Donna
> Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
>
>

Donna, I still haven't worked out exactly what you want to do. Do you
already have a data file for which you wish to generate a code book? Or is
there no data file yet, and you want to create a code book first? If the
former, does File - Display File Information give what you want, or at least
something close?

-----
--
Bruce Weaver
[hidden email]
http://sites.google.com/a/lakeheadu.ca/bweaver/
"When all else fails, RTFM."

NOTE: My hotmail address is for posting only, and messages sent to it will
be deleted.

--
View this message in context:
http://www.nabble.com/SPSS-code-books-and-variables-tp25184240p25192215.html
Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

=====================
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For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
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=====================
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[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
command. To leave the list, send the command
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For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
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Donna Alden-Bugden

SPSS code books and variables

In reply to this post by John F Hall

John, I’m a doctoral student but even though I love stats i’m pretty new to SPSS although I’m learning it fast. At the university they have indicated we don’t need to know how to use the program as we have a statistician who will do it all for us. However, I want to know what i’m doing so that when I defend, I know I understand what i’m telling my committee.

I think what i needed was to understand a variety of ways that variables are entered...the file you sent was excellent as it will be helpful in seeing how you entered your variables...and it included the demographic data at the bottom which is what i needed. I’m going to look around and download a few other .sav files and see how others have set up their variables...this is really what i think i needed....for demographic data and a variety of likert scale questionnaires.

Thanks so much

Donna

*********************************************************************************************

Donna L. Alden-Bugden, BSc, BScN, NP, MN (ANP), DNP-Student

NPCanada.ca - Promoting Nurse Practitioners in Canada

Family Nurse Practitioner - Winnipeg, Manitoba

Doctoral Student - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

[hidden email]

Alternate E-mail:

[hidden email] [hidden email] or [hidden email]

http://www.NPCanada.ca

*********************************************************************************************

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of John F Hall
Sent: August-28-09 10:28 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: AW: SPSS code books and variables

Donna

frequencies <type in your list of variable names, varx to vary or whatever>

For example, using Fifth Form Survey (a data set downloadable from my webpage) open a new syntax file and type:

freq v248 to v250. Then run it, but it yields no control over output, unless you edit the pivot table.

Q.33a Women's fulfilment is kids

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly disagree	33	31.4	31.4	31.4
	Disagree	41	39.0	39.0	70.5
	Agree	20	19.0	19.0	89.5
	Agree strongly	11	10.5	10.5	100.0
	Total	105	100.0	100.0

Q.33b Women should pay on dates

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly disagree	15	14.3	14.3	14.3
	Disagree	24	22.9	22.9	37.1
	Agree	45	42.9	42.9	80.0
	Agree strongly	21	20.0	20.0	100.0
	Total	105	100.0	100.0

Q.33c Half top jobs reserved for women

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly disagree	19	18.1	18.1	18.1
	Disagree	38	36.2	36.2	54.3
	Agree	37	35.2	35.2	89.5
	Agree strongly	11	10.5	10.5	100.0
	Total	105	100.0	100.0

...or for a condensed version (quicker using using drop-down menus and you can control cell contents, in this case valid percent only, with no decimal places)

analyze

...tables.

..tables of frequencies

	Q.33a Women's fulfilment is kids	Q.33b Women should pay on dates	Q.33c Half top jobs reserved for women
	%	%	%
Strongly disagree	31	14	18
Disagree	39	23	36
Agree	19	43	35
Agree strongly	10	20	10

(cumbersome in syntax as below)

TABLES

    /FORMAT BLANK MISSING('.') /TABLES

    (LABELS) BY

    ( v248 + v249 )

    /STATISTICS

    CPCT ((PCT5.0) '%' ) .

Meanwhile have a look at:

http://independent.academia.edu/documents/0031/6942/Navigation_guide_to_learning_materials_and_SPSS.doc

for my entry level tutorials on survey data and SPSS (gentle approach, fully worked examples with full set of screen dumps).

If by codebook you mean a user-manual, then have a look at the one I did for a small survey by some of my students:

http://independent.academia.edu/documents/0009/8524/Playground_to_Politics_Users__Manual.pdf

...which could act as a model for you. I used it for teaching later waves of students. The data set used above is downloadable as a saved SPSS file from the same survey if you want to play with it.

If you can send me a copy of (the relevant partsof) your questionnaire, I may be able to offer more advice.

John Hall

----- Original Message -----

From: [hidden email]

To: [hidden email]

Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 2:30 PM

Subject: AW: SPSS code books and variables

Hi Donna,

I would recommand the following

http://www.upa.pdx.edu/IOA/newsom/da1/default.htm
http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/spss/
http://www.spsstools.net/
http://delicious.com/StatComp/SPSS
http://www.indiana.edu/~statmath/support/bydoc/

HTH

Best regards

Georg Maubach

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] Im Auftrag von Donna Alden-Bugden
Gesendet: Freitag, 28. August 2009 07:30
An: [hidden email]
Betreff: SPSS code books and variables

I'm new to the list
Does anyone know where there are free tutorials for developing a codebook in SPSS...especially for likert scales. I have several surveys that are likert scales and I can't figure out how to set up the variables for the codebook. Other tutorials would be appreciated...not really basic tutorials but slightly advanced.

Donna
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

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

Donna Alden-Bugden

Re: SPSS code books and variables

In reply to this post by Georg Maubach-2

Thank you Georg....this will be very helpful. Much appreciated.

Donna

****************************************************************************
*****************
Donna L. Alden-Bugden, BSc, BScN, NP, MN (ANP), DNP-Student
NPCanada.ca - Promoting Nurse Practitioners in Canada
Family Nurse Practitioner - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Doctoral Student - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
[hidden email]
Alternate E-mail:
[hidden email] [hidden email] or [hidden email]
http://www.NPCanada.ca
****************************************************************************
*****************

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: August-28-09 7:31 AM
To: [hidden email]; [hidden email]
Subject: AW: SPSS code books and variables

Hi Donna,

I would recommand the following

http://www.upa.pdx.edu/IOA/newsom/da1/default.htm
http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/spss/
http://www.spsstools.net/
http://delicious.com/StatComp/SPSS
http://www.indiana.edu/~statmath/support/bydoc/

HTH

Best regards

Georg Maubach

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] Im Auftrag von
Donna Alden-Bugden
Gesendet: Freitag, 28. August 2009 07:30
An: [hidden email]
Betreff: SPSS code books and variables

I'm new to the list
Does anyone know where there are free tutorials for developing a codebook in
SPSS...especially for likert scales. I have several surveys that are likert
scales and I can't figure out how to set up the variables for the codebook.
Other tutorials would be appreciated...not really basic tutorials but
slightly advanced.

Donna
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

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

Donna Alden-Bugden

Re: SPSS code books and variables

In reply to this post by Bruce Weaver

Bruce...You mentioned....

If the former, does File - Display File Information give what you want, or
at least something close?

Yes, this is pretty much what I wanted!!...but I want to make sure the
variables are all set up correctly...and I thought a video on it might help
me sort out how to properly format the variables.
I have all 4 of my files done...no data yet..I just don't know if they are
completely accurate...What I have might be accurate but it seems incomplete
because some of the value's sections are empty because I do not know what to
put in them as it doesn't seem to match what I want to put in there.
See http://www.npcanada.ca/files/printscreen.jpg ...if you notice this is
the 'set value labels' for age...i want the possible values to be 18-110 but
how do i do this on this screen as it simply asks for a number of values
that you label...not a range.

Donna

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*****************
Donna L. Alden-Bugden, BSc, BScN, NP, MN (ANP), DNP-Student
NPCanada.ca - Promoting Nurse Practitioners in Canada
Family Nurse Practitioner - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Doctoral Student - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
[hidden email]
Alternate E-mail: [hidden email] [hidden email] or
[hidden email]
http://www.NPCanada.ca
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*****************

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Bruce Weaver
Sent: August-28-09 10:43 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: SPSS code books and variables

Donna Alden-Bugden wrote:

John F Hall

Re: SPSS code books and variables

In reply to this post by Donna Alden-Bugden

Donna

You should perhaps write variable labels for each variable, but you don't need labels for each value. For very large data sets I usually generate SPSS saved files in stages, first to define variable names, second to define missing values, third to insert labels. Smaller data sets can be done in a single pass. Just make yourself a small table as a guide to define your variable names.

How many cases (people) and variables (questions and sub-questions) do you have? Can you scan/send me a facsimile of your questionnaire/schedule/instrument (as an attachment) so I can see what you are dealing with?

Working blind here, but I suggest:

Download the navigation guide to my SPSS materials Navigation guide to learning materials and SPSS and save it on your own machine for future reference. You can now use this to read or download all the following contents as and when. Print and keep a hard copy.

Whilst you're at it, you might as well do the same with Journeys in Survey Research 1965 2009. Both guides have hyperlinks to all respective contents.

Start by reading The Nature of Survey Data

Download and print Class fun questionnaire and Transfer sheet for data from your questionnaire(s) then complete the questionnaire and write out your data on the transfer sheet (one line only, unless you get a couple of friends to do it as well).

You might find it easier to design a data capture sheet (I can help with this) on to which to transfer data from your questionnaires before typing them into a file that SPSS can read. Sounds as if you might need a cross between questionnaire and transfer sheet.

There are now three ways of getting your data into SPSS (but not the way you've tried!):

1: I've just done a check with a blank Data Editor and you can enter data direct in Data View. Take the data from your first case and write in the values in the first row. Variable names are generated automatically starting with VAR0001 and building up in numeric sequence. You could try it with a few of your cases and then go to Variable View to see what SPSS has done. You can change the variable names manually if you want. Now click on

File

...save as

test1.sav

This will give you a bit of practice. You can leave labelling until later by closing the file, then double click to reopen it, add some variable and value labels (either directly or using syntax) and then save it again, but with a different name, eg test2.sav.

2: Open a new Excel spreadsheet and enter the data, remembering to leave blank columns to separate sections. The use of blanks is good practice as blank columns are visually easy to check and this helps to make sure data are in the correct location. You can enter your variable names in the first row, but SPSS reads such a matrix differently.

3: Open a new Word file, change the font to Courier 12 fixed-width, type in your data from the transfer sheet, including spaces, and save the file as *.txt. Don't forget leading blanks for single digit codes in 2-column fields. You can see the full cumulative data set from successive waves of students in Data for fun questionnaire

This is the process you need to go through with your own data. Some useful check procedures are not available in drop-down menus: one of these is LIST to print out the contents of cases.

Personally I prefer to have the raw data in a separate ASCII file (usually in 80-column lines) and use DATA LIST to read it into SPSS. That way I can see what I am doing, think while I'm doing it, and spot errors quickly. However these days, with CAPI and BLISS, data may not always be available in this form, but for students and researchers entering their own data, my way is probably safest.

You could now read Introduction to the use of computers in survey analysis before working your way through Survey Analysis Workshop: Stage 1 From questionnaire to data file to see if you follow the logic and mechanics. You might also have a look at Conventions for Naming Variables in SPSS and First look at a real survey - British Social Attitudes 1989 which will help you understand the relation between data layout and questionnaire design.

Some of this may seem a tad simplistic, but I've processed dozens of surveys for other people using SPSS and arrived at best practice for everyone involved. To see where I'm coming from have a look at my 2006 paper Old Dog, Old Tricks: Using SPSS Syntax to Avoid the Mouse Trap and the 1st accompanying slide-show Old Dog, Old Tricks 1 - Computers and surveys before SPSS: history and background. I hate the indiscriminate use of mouse and drop-down menus, so check out this movie clip first:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYAKBgJnM24

...then watch the slide show and learn a thing or two!

You seem to be doing something psychological, so I suggest you also look at my full length critical review Review of Julie Pallant "SPSS Survival Manual" She might be good on psychometric stats, but she's not so hot on SPSS other than statistical procedures. On the other hand she's obviously helped thousands of desperate students to complete their theses.

Incidentally I have a very large data set here on four types of primary care nurses working in six London health authorities (N=1133, V=644) mostly consisting of dozens of Likert scales.

You say you love stats, but remember, as Tukey once said, "All the statistics in the world won't save you if you asked the wrong question in the first place!"

Here endeth the first private tutorial!

John

----- Original Message -----

From: [hidden email]

To: [hidden email]

Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 5:54 AM

Subject: SPSS code books and variables

John, Im a doctoral student but even though I love stats im pretty new to SPSS although Im learning it fast. At the university they have indicated we dont need to know how to use the program as we have a statistician who will do it all for us. However, I want to know what im doing so that when I defend, I know I understand what im telling my committee.

I think what i needed was to understand a variety of ways that variables are entered...the file you sent was excellent as it will be helpful in seeing how you entered your variables...and it included the demographic data at the bottom which is what i needed. Im going to look around and download a few other .sav files and see how others have set up their variables...this is really what i think i needed....for demographic data and a variety of likert scale questionnaires.

Thanks so much

Donna

*********************************************************************************************

Donna L. Alden-Bugden, BSc, BScN, NP, MN (ANP), DNP-Student

NPCanada.ca - Promoting Nurse Practitioners in Canada

Family Nurse Practitioner - Winnipeg, Manitoba

Doctoral Student - Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

[hidden email]

Alternate E-mail:

[hidden email]   [hidden email] or [hidden email]

http://www.NPCanada.ca

*********************************************************************************************

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of John F Hall
Sent: August-28-09 10:28 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: AW: SPSS code books and variables

Donna

Are you a student or a researcher? Not quite sure what you want to produce, or how versed you are in SPSS. I would have thought some sort of frequency count would suffice, provided you have decent labelling in your dictionary. I'm not a great fan of drop-down menus, so tend to use syntax for most SPSS jobs, thus

frequencies <type in your list of variable names, varx to vary or whatever>

For example, using Fifth Form Survey (a data set downloadable from my webpage) open a new syntax file and type:

freq v248 to v250.            Then run it, but it yields no control over output, unless you edit the pivot table.

Q.33a Women's fulfilment is kids

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly disagree

33

31.4

31.4

31.4

Disagree

41

39.0

39.0

70.5

Agree

20

19.0

19.0

89.5

Agree strongly

11

10.5

10.5

100.0

Total

105

100.0

100.0

Q.33b Women should pay on dates

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly disagree

15

14.3

14.3

14.3

Disagree

24

22.9

22.9

37.1

Agree

45

42.9

42.9

80.0

Agree strongly

21

20.0

20.0

100.0

Total

105

100.0

100.0

Q.33c Half top jobs reserved for women

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Valid

Strongly disagree

19

18.1

18.1

18.1

Disagree

38

36.2

36.2

54.3

Agree

37

35.2

35.2

89.5

Agree strongly

11

10.5

10.5

100.0

Total

105

100.0

100.0

...or for a condensed version (quicker using using drop-down menus and you can control cell contents, in this case valid percent only, with no decimal places)

analyze

    ...tables.

        ..tables of frequencies

Q.33a Women's fulfilment is kids

Q.33b Women should pay on dates

Q.33c Half top jobs reserved for women

%

%

%

Strongly disagree

31

14

18

Disagree

39

23

36

Agree

19

43

35

Agree strongly

10

20

10

(cumbersome in syntax as below)

TABLES

    /FORMAT BLANK MISSING('.') /TABLES

    (LABELS) BY

    ( v248 + v249 )

    /STATISTICS

    CPCT ((PCT5.0) '%' ) .

I'll have a think about this and see if I can find a way to produce a table with variables down the side and frequencies across. I'm not into macros, but I'm sure someone else is. Raynald Levesque (www.spsstools.net below) once wrote one in response to a plea from me for SPSS to produce elaboration tables. We used to be able to do this by recoding a range of values to 100 and everthing else to 0 then using means and subcommand /crossbreak, but the latter is no longer available.

Meanwhile have a look at:

http://independent.academia.edu/documents/0031/6942/Navigation_guide_to_learning_materials_and_SPSS.doc

for my entry level tutorials on survey data and SPSS (gentle approach, fully worked examples with full set of screen dumps).

If by codebook you mean a user-manual, then have a look at the one I did for a small survey by some of my students:

http://independent.academia.edu/documents/0009/8524/Playground_to_Politics_Users__Manual.pdf

...which could act as a model for you. I used it for teaching later waves of students. The data set used above is downloadable as a saved SPSS file from the same survey if you want to play with it.

If you can send me a copy of (the relevant partsof) your questionnaire, I may be able to offer more advice.

John Hall

----- Original Message -----

From: [hidden email]

To: [hidden email]

Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 2:30 PM

Subject: AW: SPSS code books and variables

Hi Donna,

I would recommand the following

http://www.upa.pdx.edu/IOA/newsom/da1/default.htm
http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/spss/
http://www.spsstools.net/
http://delicious.com/StatComp/SPSS
http://www.indiana.edu/~statmath/support/bydoc/

HTH

Best regards

Georg Maubach

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] Im Auftrag von Donna Alden-Bugden
Gesendet: Freitag, 28. August 2009 07:30
An: [hidden email]
Betreff: SPSS code books and variables

I'm new to the list
Does anyone know where there are free tutorials for developing a codebook in SPSS...especially for likert scales. I have several surveys that are likert scales and I can't figure out how to set up the variables for the codebook. Other tutorials would be appreciated...not really basic tutorials but slightly advanced.

Donna
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

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