Research Tools 2: SPSS

SPSS (short for “Statistical Package for the Social Science”) is a powerful statistical analysis and data management system which initially ran on mainframe computers in the late 1960s. Starting from version 12 to 15, it has specially designed for the environment of Windows XP operating system. It provides a collection of statistical subroutines with descriptive menus and simple dialog boxes for users to analyze research data in a graphical environment with personal computers. Besides the traditional method to perform all the tasks by keyboard, most of the tasks can also be accomplished by using mouse now. There are many editing environments in SPSS which provide users with prominent functions on statistical analysis:
(1) Data Editor : A versatile spreadsheet-like system which enable users for defining, entering, editing and displaying data.
(2) Output Viewer : A highly visual, object oriented facility which enable users to manipulate and customize output and charts produced by SPSS.
(3) Pivot Tables : Users can view the results in many different ways and manipulate in a multi-dimensional tables.
(4) Interactive Chart Editor Window : Users can generate and modify high resolution, full colour pie charts, bar charts, histograms, scatter plots, 3-D graphics etc in the SPSS.
(5) Draft Viewer Window : Users can present their outputs as text materials instead of objects and pivot tables.
(6) Script Editor : Users can write, modify and debug the SPSS command in an editing window with Sax BASIC.

SPSS Website: http://www.spss.com/

Reference:

1. Best, John W. (206). Research in education. Boston ; Hong Kong : Pearson/Ally and Bacon.
2. Reinard, John C. (2006). Communication research statistics. Thousand Oaks, Calif. : SAGE Publications.