SPSS

SPSS (Statistical package for the social sciences) is the set of software programs that are
combined together in a single package. The basic application of this program is to analyze
scientific data related with the social science. This data can be used for market research,
surveys, data mining, etc.

With the help of the obtained statistical information, researchers can easily understand the
demand for a product in the market, and can change their strategy accordingly. Basically,
SPSS first store and organize the provided data, then it compiles the data set to produce
suitable output. SPSS is designed in such a way that it can handle a large set of variable data
formats.

How SPSS Helps in Research & Data Analysis Programs:

SPSS is revolutionary software mainly used by research scientists which help them process
critical data in simple steps. Working on data is a complex and time consuming process, but
this software can easily handle and operate information with the help of some techniques.
These techniques are used to analyze, transform, and produce a characteristic pattern between
different data variables. In addition to it, the output can be obtained through graphical
representation so that a user can easily understand the result. Read below to understand the
factors that are responsible in the process of data handling and its execution.

1. Data Transformation: This technique is used to convert the format of the data. After
changing the data type, it integrates same type of data in one place and it becomes easy to
manage it. You can insert the different kind of data into SPSS and it will change its structure
as per the system specification and requirement. It means that even if you change the
operating system, SPSS can still work on old data.

2. Regression Analysis: It is used to understand the relation between dependent and

interdependent variables that are stored in a data file. It also explains how a change in the
value of an interdependent variable can affect the dependent data. The primary need of
regression analysis is to understand the type of relationship between different variables.

3. ANOVA( Analysis of variance): It is a statistical approach to compare events,

groups or processes, and find out the difference between them. It can help you understand
which method is more suitable for executing a task. By looking at the result, you can find the
feasibility and effectiveness of the particular method.

4. MANOVA( Multivariate analysis of variance): This method is used to compare

data of random variables whose value is unknown. MANOVA technique can also be used to
analyze different types of population and what factors can affect their choices.

5. T-tests: It is used to understand the difference between two sample types, and
researchers apply this method to find out the difference in the interest of two kinds of groups.
This test can also understand if the produced output is meaningless or useful.

This software was developed in 1960, but later in 2009, IBM acquired it. They have made
some significant changes in the programming of SPSS and now it can perform many types of
research task in various fields. Due to this, the use of this software is extended to many
industries and organizations, such as marketing, health care, education, surveys, etc.

Benefits

• Leave No Data Behind: Read and write data from ASCII text files, spreadsheets,
Microsoft Excel, Access and other databases. The tool helps you form a complete
picture of your business by seamlessly drawing information from other statistics
platforms.

• Prepare Data: Identify missing or invalid values and clean up large data sets in a
single step with automatic data prep. SPSS Statistics enables accurate data analysis
with its data conditioning workflows.

• Make Predictions: Uncover correlations using time-series analysis, temporal causal

modeling and neural networks. The tool accounts for future uncertainty with
probability distributions and improves predictive models as it goes, with multilayer
perceptron and radial basis function.

• Use Easily: Analyze data via its user-friendly interface — no need for coding skills.
Filter, aggregate and sort metrics as desired with point-and-click and drag-and-drop
actions. Perform statistical analysis without knowing the underlying functions and
formulas with natural language queries.
Features

• Open-source Integration: Enhance SPSS syntax using R and Python with the IBM
Extension Hub or build custom code to automate statistical procedures.

• Functions Library: SPSS is a robust solution that can perform almost every
statistical analysis, including linear, non-linear and simulation modeling. Additional
techniques include Bayesian statistics, custom tables, complex sampling, advanced
and descriptive statistics and regression.

• Multiple Export Formats: Export data to your native application’s file format or
standard formats like text, Microsoft Word, PDF, Excel, HTML, XML and XLS. You
can export visualizations in various graphic formats.

Limitations

• Doesn’t offer free add-ons with the student module.

• Lacks high-quality, customizable graphics.

• Doesn’t provide backward compatibility for its proprietary output files with
extensions .spo and .spv.