How to handle multiple answers in SPSS

Question

I am having a questionnaire and I am trying to analyze it in the SPSS, the question is: What are the benefits of the Implementation: 1. Fast 2. Time Saving. 3.Reduce Cost.

How to handle this in SPSS.

I have created a variable called Benefits and in the values, I added them. Now, in the Data View how to choose multiple answers?

Thanks

Answer 1

The usual approach is to treat this as a multiple response question. It could be a multiple dichotomy where you have a yes/no variable for each possible response. Alternatively it could be a multiple response set where you list the first k responses. The Custom Tables option provides the most flexibility here, but there is also a MULT RESPONSE procedure in the Base if you don't have Custom Tables. The Chart Builder can also handle multiple response sets.

HTH, Jon Peck

Answer 2

May be this is not the "sophisticated way" but...

If I understand your question correct: 1. you want to now, how to add these values into SPSS and 2. You want to know, how to work with this data. Actually by 3 value options you have 9 groups: 1. fast AND time saving AND reduce cost; 2. fast AND time saving NO reduced costs; 3. fast No time saving No reduced costs... and so to group 9: NO fast NO time saving NO reduce costs.

1: SPSS is similar to excel. In the "variable view" (below, left) you create a new variable, e.g. "Benefits". Then you click on "Label" and write "1" for "fast/time saving/reduce costs", "2" for "fast/timesaving", 3 for... Then you go to "data view" and enter the corresponding values. 2: At the end you will have 9 groups and can perform an ANOVA test. Or you can "recode" the "Benefits" variable to a set of dummy variables, such as "fast" whereby every group which contained the anser "fast" is coded as "1" and the rest as "0"; and so on.

I hope it helps! Best, Eugene