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How to Get a Code Book from SPSS

by Karen Grace-Martin 8 Comments

One of the nice features of SPSS is its ability to keep track of information on the variables themselves.

spss-file-info-menu

This includes variable labels, missing data codes, value labels, and variable formats. Spending the time to set up variable information makes data analysis much easier–you don’t have to keep looking up whether males are coded 1 or 0, for example.

And having them all in the variable view window makes things incredibly easy while you’re doing your analysis. But sometimes you need to just print them all out–to create a code book for another analyst or to include in the output you’re sending to a collaborator. Or even just to print them out for yourself for easy reference.

There is a nice little way to get a few tables with a list of all the variable metadata. It’s in the File menu.  Simply choose Display Data File Information and Working File.

Doing this gives you two tables. The first includes the following information on the variables. I find the information I use the most are the labels and the missing data codes.

spss-variable-info-table

spss-variable-values-table

 

Even more useful, though, is the Value Label table.

It lists out the labels for all the values for each variable.

So you don’t have to remember that Job Category (jobcat) 1 is “Clerical,” 2 is “Custodial,” and 3 is “Managerial.”

It’s all right there.

Want to learn more? If you’re just getting started with data analysis in SPSS, or would like a thorough refresher, please join us in our online workshop Introduction to Data Analysis in SPSS


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Getting Started with SPSS Syntax
Do you want to know how to use SPSS syntax for data manipulation and analyses? You will witness all the advantages that come with using syntax, especially one that is already built-in.

Tagged With: SPSS, Value Labels, variable labels

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Comments

  1. Hashim Iqbal says

    December 5, 2018 at 6:06 am

    Salam everyone.

    i wanna know that, can i extract spss output result through any other programming language like R or python.
    i wanna say that, i generate the frequency diagram in spss, now this table or image file in spss output that contains the data about frequency distribution, can i excess through R or python and import it to any other places except word, excel,power-point or pdf.
    i am very thankful to you for your time that you’ll given to response this query.

    Reply
  2. Achille Turner says

    August 17, 2015 at 9:22 am

    i need ur assistance.Pls help me. For example a created a column:
    Name and surname
    1.hans watergate
    2.peter edison
    3.hans watergate
    4.peter edison
    i want to choose unique values, how can i do spss automatically select 1 and 2 and unselect 3 and 4 (because of repeated values)

    Reply
  3. Stefan says

    September 3, 2013 at 6:47 am

    Hi Karen,

    is it possible to partition the table variable values for every variable? I need one table for every variable.

    Thanks
    Stefan

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 4, 2013 at 2:15 pm

      Hmm, without editing? Not that I know of. If it’s anywhere, I would look it up in the Command Syntax Reference. Often there are options in syntax that are not available in the menus.

      Reply
  4. Barry says

    April 16, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    I did not know this (is this a new feature of SPSS?).
    It’s sweet.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      April 16, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      Not new, it’s just hidden away.

      Reply
  5. sandy says

    April 3, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    Hi Karen,

    I would love to see a workshop like this Intro to Data Analysis, but for R. Is there any possibility?

    Sandy

    Reply
    • Karen says

      April 3, 2013 at 4:25 pm

      Hi Sandy!

      Indeed there is. It’s already in the works–we’re just working on the dates. Also one on running linear models in R.

      Karen

      Reply

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