Using SPSS to Understand Research and Data Analysis.

2.5 And Last, the SPSS Output Viewer Window

Once a syntax data file has been created consisting of a DATA LIST statement, lines of data, and an SPSS command statement specifying a procedure to execute, the user is ready to conduct the requested analysis.

• 2.5a Generating an output file

Let’s go ahead and run the Frequencies procedure specified in this Syntax file so that we can generate an output file to view. We won’t go into detail about this output now - we’ll be doing plenty of that in later chapters! Our purpose here is to bring this example to completion and to show you an SPSS Output Viewer Window.

To generate this output, we need to instruct SPSS to run the procedure specified in the Frequencies syntax line at the end of the file. To do this, select Run, All from the drop-down menu at the top of this Syntax Editor Window (Figure 2.18).

When you do this, the SPSS processor will run the procedure. Shortly a new window will appear presenting the results (output) of the Frequencies procedure.

The Output Viewer window shown in Figure 2.19 will now appear. This file shows the frequency tables we requested SPSS to generate. We won’t discuss this output – our goal here is to contrast the Output Viewer window and its files from files created in the Data Editor and Syntax Editor windows.

To view a video of this procedure, click Play below: