Module I: Getting Started

SPSS is available in all computer labs on the USF campus. For detailed information on the location and hours of operation for the labs, visit the ITS web site. Or you can purchase the software from the USF bookstore at a reduced rate. (Be certain to buy the Graduate Student Pack.)

Accessing SPSS:

To access SPSS on campus through your LAN account, follow the instructions below. If you are a USF student unfamiliar with your LAN account, visit the Student Accounts information page on the ITS web site.

1. Start the computer.
2. At the prompt enter your user name and password. Make certain that "Accounts" shows in the "log on to" box. Click "OK."
3. Once the system loads, click on the "start" button in the lower lefthand corner of the screen. Click on "programs."
4. A long list of available programs will appear. Use the mouse to highlight "SPSS for Windows" and then click on "SPSS 12.0 for Windows." (Note: Numbers indicating software version are likely to change.)
5. For directions on how to open an SPSS file, click here.

Accessing SPSS course materials in Blackboard:

On-Campus Instructions:

1. Start the computer.
2. At the prompt enter your user name and password. Make certain that "Accounts" shows in the "log on to" box. Click "OK". The system loads.
3. Open SPSS (see steps 3 and 4 above) and minimize it.
4. Click on either the Netscape or Internet Explorer icon to access USFConnect.
5. On the USFConnect login screen, enter your user name and password, and click "OK."
6. Click on the "My Courses" tab at the top of the page.
7. Click on the link for the course you are attending with material in Blackboard.
8. In the lefthand margin click on the "Blackboard" button.
9. Click the "Login" button.
10. Enter your username and password and click "log in".
11. In the "My Courses" box on the right, click the title of the course you are attending.
12. Choose and click the button along the lefthand margin where the SPSS data set has been placed. (The faculty member teaching the course will have to let you know this. A likely location is Course Documents.)
13. Locate and click on the link to the data set.
14. A File Download dialog box will appear. Click either Open (to open the file from its current location) or Save (to save it in another location, the hard drive, onto a disc, etc.). For illustrative purposes, click on Open. For remote access to SPSS course materials in Blackboard:

Off-Campus Instructions:

1. Point your browser to http://www.usfca.edu.
2. Click on the yellow and gold "USFConnect" button located at the bottom center of the page.
3. Follow the procedure for on campus access beginning with step 5.

Opening SPSS Files:

To open a new file:

1. Launch SPSS.
2. At the startup screen, click on "Type in data" and hit the "OK" button at the bottom of the screen.
3. To access an existing file (either created by the user or available within SPSS):
4. Launch SPSS.
5. At the startup screen, click on "open existing data source".
6. Scroll through the list of files that appears and highlight the one you wish to access. Hit the "OK" button at the bottom of the screen.

Saving SPSS Files and Exiting:

To save your work in SPSS:

1. Click the save button on the toolbar.
2. In the dialog box use the pull down menu "Save in" to locate where the file is to be saved (desktop, harddrive, floppy, etc.)
3. Enter a meaningful name for the file in the "File name" field.
4. Notice in the "Save as type" field the suffix ."sav" has defaulted in. Do not change that.
5. Click the Save button on the righthand side of the dialog box.

To exit SPSS:

1. If you wish to save data you have entered, you must do so before exiting. To save your file follow the procedures outlined above.
2. Exit the program either by clicking on the large red "X" in the uppermost right hand corner of the file, or by using the File menu on the toolbar to access "Exit".