Customer Reviews

SPSS Survival Manual: A Step by Step Guide to Data Analysis Using SPSS for Windows (Version 15)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have searched and read some SPSS books and I consider the SPSS Survival Manual the best boook for the first SPSS course to learn SPSS.

There are several reasons.

First, the book is very concise and the author guides you step-by-step to learn how to use SPSS menu. Unlike some books that describe the SPSS use in a very wordy way, this author guides you through how to perform a t-test in several steps, for instance, and then shows you how to interpret the output in a detailed manner. The book is about 330 pages and contains many SPSS outputs, and thus it is possible to finish in a short time.~

Second,the author covers essential statistics that you would encounter in the beginning of the statistics class. Beside that the part one (Getting started) and part two (Preparing the data file) include how to manipulate data, the part three (preliminary analyses) and part four (Statistical techniques) include descriptive statistics and correlation, multiple regression, factor analyses, t-test, one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, MANOVA, ANCOVA, and non-parametric statsitics. You will have a general idea about the applied statistics once you go through the book.

There are some limitations about this book.

First, the book is in a spiral binding (not paper or hardcover) and thus is easy to damage the book cover (although it is easy to open and read).

Second, I wish that this book also include more advanced statistics such as ROC, Time Series, and Survival analysis. But I guess that it is beyond the scope of this book. Otherwise, that would be nice.

Therefore, I personally strongly recommend this book for someone who would like to get into SPSS. This book will save you plenty of time.

The 3rd edition of this popular book carries the sticker "Students' Favourite". However, I would suggest this book is very valuable for a much wider audience, including post Doctoral professionals who find themselves a bit 'rusty' on a particular statistical test, or who need to refresh their memories on the assumptions underlying a given test. The sad reality is the old adage "What you don't use, you lose' is all too true with stats, and if you don't undertake statistical analysis reqularly, it's amazing how quickly you can forget even some of the basics, particularly when you are getting more advanced in years.
This is where this book is an absolute gem to have in your bookshelf. Its a shame that the iterations of SPSS (thank God they've given up the silly PASW name change since IBM bought it) come so quickly, but usually the vast majority of material is still there, just in a different place. I think this is a great book and would recommend it to anyone who needs and uses stats, but not necccessarily every day or every week.

I needed a book to help me through my statistics for my dissertation. I wasn't sure which book to purchase and finally decided to take this one even though it had been written a while ago and was based upon an earlier version of SPSS than I had. I have never been happier with a decision! This book is PERFECT. It provides explanations about when to use a certain test, step-by-step directions on what to click in SPSS, and then how to write the results. You will not be disappointed.

I've been using SPSS for years, but found myself having to train others in how to use it. So, wanted a refresher course on some of the options that I don't use very often.

I selected this based on the other favorable reviews, and am pleased to add my five star rating to the mix. Outstanding! Clearly written, well organized and best of all, it has a spiral binding so you can open it up flat next to the keyboard as you're typing in commands.

Even though I'm a long-time user I found several tips that I was not aware of that will save me time down the road. Best money I ever spent on a manual.

Wish all software manuals were as well-done as this one. This is a must-have if you're an SPSS user.

I needed this book to help with putting together an SPSS data base, and it did its job. Simple as that. The book is as advertised.

This was highly recommended to me and was well worth it. I had no difficulty following the steps as they were so well laid out and included screen shots. This book takes the majority of the anxiety out of statistical analysis.

This was an excellent "how-to" book for conducting the various statistical tests using SPSS. It takes the user step by step through each process, letting the reader know exactly what the output will look and what each data set means, line by line.
I needed that kind of specificity with this subject. It also helped that the professor was using the same method for teaching research.
I don't know if the book by itself would be enough. It would not have been enough if I didn't have a professor who was so detailed.
At least for me, getting through quantitative research required the combination of a detailed and very patient professor, and this book to help me through the applications between lectures.

This book is so helpful using SPSS. She does some things different than my instructor wants, due to being in a different continent, but other than that, I don't do my homework without this book open and in front of me!

I have taken many college-level stats courses and taught stats a number of times with SPSS. I have been using SPSS since 1984. For beginning undergrads, and even graduate students new to stats and using SPSS, this is the single-best book I would recommend on SPSS. Were I teaching stats with SPSS again to undergrads this book would either be required or available as a supplement. If you are using some other stats package, for example, SAS, R or Mathematica, you can still learn from this book but it is mainly targetted for those using SPSS.

The author explains many of the things you will need to know to use SPSS -- how to use the software and interpret the output -- good stuff to get you through your homework. Examples are used to illustrate the various tests. There are also good explanations on the statistics side of what you are doing, that is, summary of concepts, assumptions for the tests, etc.

For both the 3rd (2007) and 4th (2011) editions there is an accompanying website where you will find helpful resources and can download the data files used for the books' examples.

Some other reviewers have complained that many things are omitted from this book. They are correct, but by design the author has focused on the most common statistical tests and general aspects of SPSS. The strength of the book is that it is accessible and useful to beginners -- it is not a comprehensive reference on the subject.

Note: The 2007 edition of this book is based on SPSS version 15. The SPSS output screens have hardly changed since then. If you can buy this as a used book it is a great value. The updated and expanded Kindle Edition of this book (2011) covers SPSS through version 20.

An equally useful supplemental book for people new to statistics is Stanton A. Glantz, "Primer of Biostatistics" -- any of the newer editions and used if you can find it. Don't let the "Biostatistics" mislead you, for statistics is applicable to all fields and Glantz explains the fundamental concepts better than just about anyone else. I wish I had known about the book when I was still a student.

Taking 3rd level stats for my doctoral program, which is NOT my strength! This book walks you through using SPSS, inputting data, and provides directions and ways to interpret the output for each statisical procedure.... It has been a lifesaver!!!!