Updated February 10, 2017
Enter Data
Select “Data sheet” on the bottom of the SPSS screen. Double click on “var0001,” which displays a dialog box. Type your first demographic characteristic variable in the box (for example, “Sex”) and click on “OK.” Double click on “var0002” and insert your second demographic characteristic variable in the box (for example, “Race”) and click on “OK." Continue adding demographic characteristic variables that you want in your graph.
Defining Variables
Select “Variable View” on the bottom of the SPSS screen. Your variables are in the first row. Select your first variable “Sex” in the first column, under the heading “Name.” Click “Tab” on your keyboard, which takes you to “Type.” In the dialog box select “Numeric” and put in width of “3” and decimals “0.” Click on “Continue.” Click “Tab” on your keyboard, which takes you to “Label.” Type “Sex of Participant,” or some other further definition of the variable. This label will appear in the charts. Tab to “Value” and click on the box. A dialog box will appear. Type “1” in “Value.” Type the category in “Value Label,” for example, “Male.” Click on “Add.” Type “2” in “Value.” Type the next category in “Value Label,” for example, “Female.” Click on “Add.” Click “OK.” Repeat for each demographic characteristic. Click on “File,” then “Save As” and type in the name of your data file. Click on “SPSS(*.sav).”
Graph
Click on “Statistics” at the top of the SPSS screen. Click on “Summarize” in the drop-down dialog box. Click on “Frequencies,” which provides a dialog box. Click on the variable you wish to put in your graph or chart from the list of your variables on the left. Then click on the arrow button pointing right to send that variable into the “Variable(s)” box. Continue to select variables to put into the “Variable(s)” box until you have all the variables you want in your graph. Click on “Chart” at the bottom of the dialog box. Click on the type of graph you want (for example, “Bar chart,” “Pie chart” or “Histogram.”) Click on “Continue” and then “OK.” Review the output that will display your graph of demographic characteristics in the form you selected. Writer Bio
