UST 602 / PAD 502:
Data Description
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Description of Data Files
Using SPSS in the Lab
Tips
Basic Reminders
GSS91 Variables
GSS91 Value Labels



Levin College of Urban Affairs Urban Center NODIS CSU

INFORMATION ABOUT DATA & HOW TO USE IT

To complete homework assignments and use SPSS in the LCUA lab (ROOM 50), you need to get data from the lab, located in N:\UST602\.



IMPORTANT

To work in the lab you need a login (user identification and a password). YOU MUST USE THE LOGIN IF YOU WANT TO ACCESS THE H DRIVE. If you forget your login, you can still work on the machines (with NO access to the H drive) by bypassing the login. When you start up the computer, and it asks for a username and a password, just hit ENTER each time. It will then ask you to "ABORT, RETRY OR IGNORE." Type "I" to ignore and you will get the C:\ prompt.
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GETTING DATA FOR USE ELSEWHERE Once are logged in and you are in Windows, get data files from N:\UST602 using the File Manager:
  1. Change to drive N
  2. Change to the UST602 directory
  3. Copy the files you want from the list into your space on H:

Description ofData Files

GSS91, GSS96 and States50
Be sure to copy the correct file type for the software you are planning to use and to copy both GSS files (1 & 2) and a STATES file for that software.
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FILE NAME                                                               DESCRIPTION                                                                USE IN                                    			
GSS96.SAv              Sample from the 1996 General 
                               Social Survey 
GSS91.SYS             The full 1991 General Social                     REGULAR SPSS (LAB)
                                Survey results (all variables)	
STATES50.SYS      The full 1991 50-State survey                   REGULAR SPSS (LAB)
                                          (all variables)
GSS1.SYS              Selection of GSS91 data                           STUDENTWARE SPSS
GSS2.SYS              Selection of GSS91 data                           STUDENTWARE SPSS
STATES.SYS         Selection of GSS91 data                           STUDENTWARE SPSS
GSS1.SX                Selection of GSS91 data                           STATISTIX
GSS2.SX                Selection of GSS91 data                           STATISTIX
STATES.SX           Selection of GSS91 data                           STATISTIX
GSSONE.WK1      Selection of GSS91 data                           SPREADSHEETS*
                                       (variables for homework chapters 2-5)
GSSTWO.WK2     Selection of GSS91 data                           SPREADSHEETS*
                                       (variables for homework chapters 6-8)
STATE.WK1          Selection of GSS91 data                           SPREADSHEETS*
                                       (variables for homework chapters 2-8)
* Files with WK1 extension are in the LOTUS123 format & can be imported into most any spreadsheet (eg, Quattro, Lotus, Excel).
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USING SPSS IN THE LAB

To get started and get data for the class:
  1. Get into the program by double-clicking the SPSS icon.
  2. Select the file name N:\UST602\GSS91.SYS or N:\UST602\STATES50.SYS. Remember, you must include the drive and the directory.
  3. You are ready to work with the data set you have retrieved, use the menu for any command you need for your analysis.
REMEMBER, YOU ARE ONLY ABLE TO WORK WITH ONE DATA SET AT A TIME. To use the other data, you need to "GET" it before you can do any analysis.
TIPS
SAVING YOUR OUTPUT
During your sessions, SPSS will automatically save all your output to file "SPSS.LIS". This file will be written every time you start up SPSS. So if you want to save it or print it out (see below for printing information) you will need to either save it under a new name in SPSS or copy it to a floppy disk or to the H drive. To do this in SPSS, you can use the menu for saving your output file. Be sure to specify the drive and the file name and remember them!
PRINTING YOUR OUTPUT
You have several options for printing the fruits of your labor (the output file you have created in SPSS). The simplest into just print the SPSS.LIS file from DOS (the C:\prompt) by exiting SPSS and typing PRINT SPSS>LIS. Another option is to bring the SPSS.LIS file into a word processing package (it is an ASCII format). This allows you to first edit, giving a better presentation of your homework before you print. In WordPerfect, which is available in the lab, allows you to bring in the file easily.
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SPSS BASIC REMINDERS