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Correlation and cross-tabulation

My teachers asked me to relate two or more variables at a time and draw an interpretation. How can I do this? Is correlation (means cross-tabulation) enough for this? Please help.

1 comment to Correlation and cross-tabulation

  • Roy
    June 10, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    It is one of the targets for all SPSS researchers to find out a relation between two or more variables and correlation is one the ways to do it. Yes, you can do it easily in your SPSS research. I am explaining how you can do it but I think, before that, I should say something about correlation (means cross-tabulation).

    Suppose, in your SPSS research, there are two variables on sex and result. You may want to be curious to know the condition regarding sex and examination result of the students. For such case, you can easily use cross tabulation. Here, I am just mentioning the ways to find a basic table of analysis.

    1. For cross tabulation, select “Statistics” from the menu. From drop-down menu, you will find “Custom Tables”, and select it. You will find the second drop-down menu.

    2. Select “Basic Table…” which will open the Basic Table dialogue box.

    3. If you want to put the result variable in row, then the variable select and click on the arrow near “Down” option. In that case, put “Sex” variable into “Across” option

    4. Then select “OK”

    A table will be opened where you can find out a primary relationship between sex and result. This table will show only the number or cases. However, if you want to know the percentage of the frequencies,

    5. After 3rd stage, select “Statistics” sub-box and select “Table %” and then “Add” it. It will be placed in “Cell Statistics” box.

    6. Select “Continue” and then press “OK”.

    You will find a new output in which percentage will be shown.

    This way you can find out the simple relation of two variables. Of course, there are different and strong ways of finding correlation in SPSS research, but many times, especially for basic level SPSS research, cross-tabulation is enough to understand the relation.