Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Clicking in the cell opens the dialog
window shown in Figure A6.2 so that
you can name your codes.
Figure A6.1
Assigning wording to codes: Step 1.
When you have completed providing value labels for all of the arbitrary
codes used for those variables containing such arbitrary codes, you will
be able to refer to them at any time to refresh your memory of how you
coded certain categories. For example, some period of time after the data
have been entered, you may need to enter the data for another couple of
cases. You see a
gender
variable in the data file but may not recall if females
were coded as 1 or 2; referring back to your
Va l u e L ab e l s
will allow you to
select the proper code for each case. You can also view these labels from
Utilities
on the main menu (see Section A.12).
These
Va l u e L ab e l s
are just that - labels - for the numbers in your
data file. SPSS uses these as “literals” or “strings of letters” without assign-
ing meaning to the labels. For example, you indicated that the letters
Figure A6.2
Assigning wording to codes: Step 2.
