ABSTRACT
This chapter is a bit different from the other chapters in this book. It is a how-to manual for using SPSS software to enter, describe, and transform quantitative data from a research study and perform statistical tests. In this chapter, exploring the properties of variables in a data set through measures of central tendency and measures of variability is discussed, as are ways to handle missing data. How and why researchers might engage in data transformation or data reduction is introduced in this chapter, with particular attention to creating an index and determining the reliability of that index. Statistical tests used to determine whether two or more groups differ are introduced, focusing on t-tests and analysis of variance. Statistical tests used to determine whether two or more variables are related are discussed, as well, with a focus on chi-square, Pearson’s correlation, and regression. For each of these statistical functions and tests, step-by-step instructions about using SPSS to run them are provided, with screenshot visuals to support these instructions. For each, we also explain how to interpret and report the output—the result of the statistical function or test.
