SPSS Basics: Techniques for a First Course in Statistics

SPSS Basics, seventh edition, is the ideal introduction to the SPSS software for students undertaking their first statistics or quantitative research project. Each chapter presents different analyses and/or graph techniques step by step with figures to correspond to the steps. The book also uses examples and exercises to enable students to apply the techniques learned to their own data.

Each chapter also presents statistical concepts to serve as background knowledge for each analysis. The book also features information unique to SPSS software users. SPSS command summaries are provided at the end of each chapter for quick reference. Another unique feature is that outputs are discussed extensively, giving the meaning of each output and highlighting other important information. Most importantly, each chapter follows the format of (1) understanding SPSS Statistics output(s), (2) formatting for research reports, and (3) interpreting the SPSS output. This gives the user a thorough understanding of each analysis presented in the book. In some chapters, references are given to published articles to see additional examples.

Because of these unique features, the book can be used as a self-guided manual in hybrid or online courses or as a textbook in an in-person introductory statistics course at undergraduate or graduate levels. For greater conceptual understanding of the analyses covered in the book, refer to Making Sense of Statistics, eighth edition (Routledge, 2023).

New to the seventh edition

• Chapter objectives at the beginning of each chapter.
• Concise step-by-step instructions for analysis with detailed examples in figures.
• Extensive discussions on understanding the SPSS Statistics output at the end of each chapter.
• A guide to formatting the SPSS Statistics output for a research report for each analysis.
• A discussion on interpreting the SPSS Statistics output at the end of each chapter.
• A guide to statistical information for conceptual understanding of statistics.
• A guide to the SPSS software information that discusses the unique features of the SPSS software.
• A guide to SPSS command summary for each analysis.
• This edition includes extensive use of screenshots, all of which have been updated to reflect the new look of the current edition of IBM SPSS Statistics Version 29.

Deborah Mi Oh is professor in Research Methods and Statistics at California State University, Los Angeles since 1998. She earned her PhD from Columbia University, New York and teaches statistics to a diverse student population in both undergraduate and graduate levels.