SPSS

Abstract

This chapter of “Statistics and Data Analysis for Engineers and Scientists” immerses readers in the powerful realm of SPSS, a statistical software package widely used for data analysis in various fields. This chapter provides a comprehensive introduction to SPSS, guiding readers through the essential steps for creating and defining variables, entering and sorting data. Building on this foundation, the chapter delves into measures of dispersion, elucidating concepts of central tendency and dispersion, quartiles, percentiles, and box-and-whisker plots. A detailed exploration of frequency distribution further enhances readers’ understanding of data variability. The chapter also unfolds the intricate world of correlation analysis, employing scatter plots and Pearson's correlation coefficient to measure relationships between variables. Readers gain proficiency in regression analysis, particularly simple linear regression, enabling them to model and interpret linear relationships within data. Visualization capabilities are expanded with guidance on creating line graphs, coding data, crafting bar charts, pie charts, and histograms. The chapter culminates with an exploration of inferential statistics, focusing on the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique to assess differences between group means. Exercises peppered throughout the chapter empower readers to apply newfound knowledge and hone their SPSS skills. By the chapter’s end, readers will have unlocked SPSS's potential as a robust tool for data analysis, correlation and regression modeling, visualization, and inferential statistics. They will be well-equipped to tackle complex engineering and scientific challenges, making informed decisions grounded in rigorous statistical analysis.