USING SPSS

TRANSFORMING DATA

(COMPUTE)

Transform Compute

Transform Compute

This is to compute (i.e. creating) a new variable from the existing variables in the data file.

Now, we are going to compute a new variable “Participation” form the variables p1, p2, p3, p4, and p5

(Assuming items “p1 – p5” are questions related to participation in decision-making)

Note: SPSS allows a maximum of eight characters in a variable name, so we are going to use “PARTICPN” for “Participation”.

The following slides will explain how this is done.

Transform Compute Dialog Box

Type “PARTICPN” in the Target Variable box

Type (p1+p2+p3+p4+p5) in the Numeric Expression box

(p1+p2+p3+p4+p5)

Press “OK” to execute the process

The new variable “PARTICPN” has been created.

These are the scores of “PARTICPN” for the respondents

We can also compute our new variable by calculating its mean.

To do this we need to ask SPSS to divide the sum of “p1+ p2 + p3 + p4 + p5” by 5 (because there are 5 items)

Lets do this again, but this time we want the mean for the five items related to “Participation”.

Since we already have a variable “PARTICPN” in our data, we need to choose a different variable name. I’m going to use “MEANPART” this time.

Transform Compute

Type “MEANPART” in the Target Variable box

Type “(p1+p2+p3+p4+p5)/5” in this Numeric Expression box

Press “OK” to execute

Our new variable “MEANPART” has been created

These are the scores of “MEANPART” for the respondents