Select IF
In order to generate frequency distributions for two variables selected for this assignment, it will be
necessary to select only the cases from the data set for two presidential elections. In this example, we
look only at the data from the 1988 and the 1992 presidential elections. To do this, we will use the
Select IF statement. This statement selects cases according to the criterion that follows the "if"
part of the statement.
The Select If is found in the SPSS menu bar under Data.
- Click on Data.
- Click on Select IF.
- This will open the Select IF window.
The Select If Window
To complete a Select If statement two steps are required. The first window is used to specify
the proceedure (i.e.,Select If) , and the variable (i.e., V01) to be used to select the desired cases. The
second window is used to specify the criterion that follows the "if" part of the statement (e.g., V01 EQ 5).
By useing this statement we will select only data from the 1988 presidential election with which we will
generate a frequency distribution.
To select the procedure and the desired variable:
- Click on V01under "studynum" to select the variable.
- Under "Select", click on "if the condition is satisfied".
- Under "Unselected Cases Are" cleck "filtered".
- At the bottom of the menu, click "Continue".
The Selection Criterion
The "Select Cases: If" window allow you to complete the criterion for selecting the appropriate data.
- Click on the variable number that you will be using to select cases for analysis.
In this case, V01 should be selected because it identified specific presidential elections.
- Click on the arrow button; this will transfer the variable number (i.e., V01) to the upper, right
section of the window.
- To select data from the 1988 presidential election, click on the EQUAL sign on the
keyboard below.
- The 1988 election data is coded "5" (see the Codebook) the next step is to click the
5 on the keypad.
- Finish this step by Clicking on CONTINUE below the keypad.
jstevens@csulb.edu
