CHAPTER 10

FREQUENCIES: AN INTRODUCTION
Purpose of Frequencies
To tabulate the number of times each value of a variable occurs. A "frequency analysis" shows the
distribution of responses to a variable. It is a way to summarize data and is referred to as a descriptive
statistic. FREQUENCIES displays the results in an easy-to-read table. It also provides percentages and
statistics (measures of central tendency and dispersion).
When to use FREQUENCIES
1.

FREQUENCIES can be used to list out the values of each variable -- this in turn can help to
identify "bad" values (erroneous codes). Often, a frequency analysis of all variables in the data
file is done as part of the "data cleaning" process.

2.

The procedure is used to describe and summarize the distribution of responses. Sometimes, this
is all the user wishes to do with the data.

3.

Frequency analyses help you to "see" the data -- know the distribution of responses. You can
then rule out the use of some variables due to their distributions, others may be recoded,
combined, etc.

Running the FREQUENCIES procedure

1.

Open the data file (from the menus, click on FILE OPEN DATA) of interest.

2.

From the menus, click on ANALYZE DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS FREQUENCIES

3.

The FREQUENCIES Dialog Box will appear. In the left-hand box will be a listing ("source variable
list") of all the variables that have been defined in the data file. The first step is identifying the
variable(s) for which you want to run a frequency analysis. Click on a variable name(s). Then click
the [ > ] pushbutton. The variable name(s) will now appear in the VARIABLE[S]: box ("selected
variable list"). Repeat these steps for each variable of interest.

4.

If all that is being requested is a frequency table showing count, percentages (raw, adjusted and
cumulative), then click on OK. SPSSWIN will read the data file and generate the requested
frequency table(s). The results will appear in the Output Navigator

NOTE: Variables are listed by default in alphabetical order. To change the order of their appearance from
alphabetical to the order the appear in the data file (spreadsheet left-to-right), click on EDIT OPTIONS
and select the first set of options ("GENERAL"). Under "Variable lists," click on "file." Then, click on the
APPLY pushbutton followed by the OK pushbutton. Also, by default, the check box "Display frequency
tables" appearing in the FREQUENCIES Dialog Box is selected. If you click on the box and "deselect",
no table(s) will be generated. This might be done if all you are interested in are statistics or charts.
If the FREQUENCIES Dialog Box lists the variable labels instead of the variable names, you can change
it to list variables names by again clicking on EDIT OPTIONS. Under Variable lists click on Display
Names and then click on the OK pushbutton. You will notice that this change will take effect the next time
a data file is opened.
Before returning to the FREQUENCIES procedure and how to read and interpret a frequency table, it is
necessary to discuss the Output Navigator.