Most people find it daunting to start learning a new computer program, especially when it is niche software they may never have encountered before. However, once you have learned a few basic rules about the program and practised using it with the guidance of an expert, almost all software can become second nature eventually - after all, developers pay a lot of attention to making their products as intuitive as possible.

When it comes to opening SPSS for the first time, it can look like there is simply too much to learn, which is why hiring an SPSS training is most people’s first port of call. This is a great investment for the future, as nothing really beats having an SPSS expert take you over the basics and answer your questions face to face. Even once people have been using SPSS for a while, they often attend SPSS training courses to brush up on their skills and learn more advanced uses of the software, particularly when upgrading to a new version of the program.

But even before you hire a tutor, there are some things you can do by yourself to make the learning process that little bit easier. Take some time to sit down and look over the program, instead of trying to jump straight in with a data set and feeling your way through it.

A good tip is to familiarise yourself with the layout of the tools SPSS provides by clicking through the toolbar menu. When it comes to learning how to use the program it will be invaluable to have some sense of where each function is located and what tools are available to you.

The ‘Help’ section of SPSS is one extremely useful tool to help you learn more about the program - with a full manual available within the software itself - and this is a good place to start as a beginner. To access instructions on how to use each function, simply click on the function you wish to use and in the box that appears, click ‘Help’.

While this is a very basic way to start with a new program, taking small steps like this can really help you retain knowledge in the long run, so try not to rush ahead.

Stay tuned for more in depth tips on using SPSS.

As a specialist software package, many people who have been advised to use SPSS may have never previously heard of the program and find themselves having to learn it from scratch. 

Fortunately, SPSS is easy to understand and to use and gives very impressive results. Here is the low down on SPSS and how it could help you.

What is it?

SPSS is used to analyse large amounts of data and it has a long history in the field of social sciences. In fact, it has been a popular tool for those dealing in statistics since its original release in 1968 and it is used today by a wide range of businesses and departments - both in the public and private sector.

So what does it do? SPSS has a wide range of data handling functionalities, including regression, forecasting, ANOVA, MANOVA and correlation. Huge amounts of statistics can be entered into the program, using an easy-to-understand spreadsheet-style interface.

The latest versions of the software are also compatible with other data analysis tools, such as spreadsheets and databases, which means with a few lessons from an SPSS expert you may be able to integrate your SPSS package with the programs you are already using to collect and manipulate data.

Who uses it?

Although it was initially developed by people working in the field of politics, nowadays SPSS is used by a wide range of public and private bodies for such functions as handling the results of large surveys or making forecasts. It is frequently employed by academics, researchers and government departments, but is also used by large companies, which need a program to analyse the massive amounts of performance and market research data they collect.

How easy is it to learn?

Learning SPSS may seem like a challenge when you first see the program, but with a good SPSS tutor it will not be long before you are up to speed. Investing some time into learning how to use the program properly is well worth it to make your work more manageable and efficient. 

Acuity Training provides a number of SPSS Training courses.