Exporting to SPSS

Topics: SPSS; export;

When you have a list of names and email addresses you’d like to invite, you can use closed-access mode to create unique invitations and track responses. You can even send reminders to people who haven’t completed the survey.

Section Video

Exporting to SPSS

There are two parts to an SPSS export from LimeSurvey:

  • The syntax file (survey_xxxx_SPSS_syntax_file.sps) holds the commands that should be run to import the data. It is like a programming language inside SPSS.
  • The data file (survey_xxxx_SPSS_data_file.dat) contains a comma separated value file with all data.

General

To export your response data to SPSS:
  1. Go to the Survey quick actions screen (the Home screen) and click on the Responses button.
  2. Click on Responses & statistics.
  3. Click the Export button, then click on Export results to a SPSS/PASW command file.
Export and filter data

When exporting data to SPSS there are two filter options:

  • you can select which data should be selected (all records/complete records only/incomplete records only) and
  • the SPSS version the export files will be compatible with (prior version 16/16 or up). Follow the instructions shown below (also shown on the Export response data to SPSS page):
  1. Click on the Export syntax button to download the syntax file
  2. Click on the Export data button to download the syntax file to the same location as the syntax file
  3. Open SPSS
  4. Click on File, Open, Syntax
  5. Choose the appropriate file (e.g. c:\desktop\survey_xxxx_SPSS_syntax_file.sps)
  6. When the syntax file opens, change the line that reads: FILE='survey_xxxx_SPSS_data_file.dat’ to include the path where the files are, e.g.: /FILE='c:\desktop\survey_xxxx_SPSS_data_file.dat’ (for Mac user: /FILE='HD/Users/username/survey_xxxx_SPSS_data_file.dat’)
  1. Now mark the whole command text and click on Run, All from the menu.

Additional resources

Use the resources on the website to guide you:

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Creating invitations