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Using SPSS: An Interactive Hands-on Approach By James B. Cunningham and James O. Aldrich Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2012, pp. 237, Price: ?350 ISBN: 978-81-321-1016-3 (Paperback)
Using SPSS An Interactive Hands-on Approach, is a nice treat for the first time users of SPSS and also for those who are confused about the peculiarities in research and statistics. The author has very rightly put, 'if reader simply knows how to use a mouse, this book will teach them how to use SPSS.' The book opens with a robust account of "First Encounters with SPSS." By going through 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4thand 5th Chapters, readers can learn about entering, viewing and saving of SPSS data. At many occasions, the author has made an analogy with MS-Excel in order to get his point through.
Chapters 1 and 2 deal with navigating through data and variable views. First chapter may enable the users to generate graphs and tables. All the steps which are required for the formulation of tables and graphs are clearly described and substantiated with relevant screenshots. Readers can also get a good idea about calculating descriptive statistics, for example, mean, sum, frequencies and percentage, etc. By going through chapter 2, users can learn about navigating through various data editor toolbars. This chapter may also help the users in exploring the data and variable view screens. How to hide or display various toolbars in data and variable views of SPSS window can also be learnt in this chapter.
Chapter 3 gives an idea about opening, copying, pasting, importing and exporting SPSS files from and to other applications. This chapter gives a crisp description of saving data and output files.
Chapters 4 and 5 talk about the levels of measurement and differences between variables measured at different levels. Fourth chapter can assist the user in selecting appropriate levels of measurement for each variable. This chapter is nicely written so as to prevent the reader from choosing wrong scales, which may later on contaminate the entire statistical analysis. Chapter 5 may help the reader to validate and accurate the data. A precise description of using "IBM SPSS Data Preparation Module" is also given, which may equip the user with methods/rules for data validation. Overall, these five chapters can familiarize...