Exercise 8.2: Accessing SPSS and Examining the Data Matrix

1. At the opening Windows screen, click on "Start," found in bottom left of screen. The small window in bottom left corner will open. Click on "programs." Another window will open showing all the available programs. Click on "SPSS for Windows." The opening window for SPSS will appear on the screen. (If a window appears asking "What would you like to do?" click on the cancel button at bottom of the window.)

For this activity, you will use the "HOUSE106depr" data file pictured in Figure 8.4. Open that file. (At this point a screen may appear titled "Output1" in the blue status bar at the top of the window. If that screen appears, close this window by clicking on "X" button in top, right corner. When you do that, yet another window may appear that asks if you want to "Save Contents of Output Viewer to Output1?" - click on "no" button.) Now wait while the data about U.S. House members is filled into data matrix. Your screen should look just like Figure 8.4.

Across the top are the variable names. Rest the mouse arrow on one of the variable names; in a couple of seconds, the full description of that variable name will become visible. Check three variable names in this manner, writing down both the SPSS name and the full written description of the variable.



Now click on the "variable view" option at the bottom left of the Data Editor screen. The variable names will now be listed down the left hand side of the screen. Scroll down the screen until you find the row headed with the variable name "IMPCLIN2". Write down that SPSS name, the full written description of the variable, and the value labels for the variable. Do the same for the variables named "CAMPFINC" and "HISPANIC."

Exit SPSS by clicking on the "X" button in upper right hand corner