SPSS Tutorial

01

Frequency Tables and Histograms

Histograms are visual representations for large quantitative data sets that take on many values. To create a histogram, a frequency table is needed in which the data is divided into classes or inter-vals of equal width and the frequency of data points that lie in each class is recorded.

For example, this data is the ages in years of adults who moved to Phoenix in 2012. The first step to create the Frequency table and Histogram in SPSS is to enter the data. (For questions on this, please reference the data entry tutorial.)

To create the Frequency table and histo-gram you will need to first create a new variable that represents the classes. To do this, the Visual Binning function will be used.

Click on Transform and then Visual Binning.

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The Visual Binning dialogue box will open. Select the variable of interest, Age, and click the arrow key to move it into the Vari-ables to Bin box.

Select Continue..

Provide a name for the binned variable – Age_Classes was chosen as the name here. Remember that variables cannot have spaces in the names.

Now the cut points for the classes need to be entered. The cut points are the class definitions. To determine these, please reference the Visual Learner Media Piece – Frequency Distribution. Enter the upper class limits in the value box. Click on Make Labels and the labels with the classes will be generated.

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Click OK and the pop up will open, telling you that one variable is being created. Click OK.

Click OK.

The data table will now have two rows. The Frequency table and Histogram can be created from this data.

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Select Analyze – Descriptive Statistics - Frequencies

The Frequency dialogue box will open. Choose the binned variable and use the Arrow to move it over to the Variables box.

Select Charts to choose which graphs you want displayed.

The Frequency Table and Histogram are displayed in the output window.

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Select Histograms and then Continue and click OK.