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5.1: An Introduction to Making Graphs

  • Page ID
    29461
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    Before we discuss any specialized graphs, let’s start by drawing a few very simple graphs just to get a feel for what it’s like to draw pictures using SPSS. To that end, let’s create a small data fileFibonacci.sav that contains a few numbers we’d like SPSS to draw for us.

    clipboard_e900c9d7bc83c3ea0b0dea4265826ab0d.png

    Then, we’ll have SPSS create a plot of those numbers. This will be a surprise, but we do that by first selecting the Graphs menu item and then Chart Builder...

    clipboard_e362d6b1a7934065bbf78f7744371ee4c.png

    The Chart Builder contains the tools to make a host of different types of graphs.

    clipboard_eb8ce4c18e50834d4717bda309754079d.png

    For our quick example here, we'll choose the Scatter/Dot option, then select the Scatter Plot option, which is the first box in the gallery:

    clipboard_e9ba679aee2212a089f724ee2e3447859.png

    Drag that icon into the Chart Preview window:

    clipboard_ea82fb8d826422fa839749e115ade52b4.png

    Now, drag the Index variable down to the X-Axis? space and the Fibonacci variable down to the Y-Axis? space. At this point, to keep it simple, just click on OK. The output looks like this:

    clipboard_e2d69408e98bab8de71e1961652a08d15.png

    Congratulations! You've made your first graph!


    This page titled 5.1: An Introduction to Making Graphs is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Danielle Navarro.