How can I loop through variables in SPSS? I want t

Question

Is there a "native" SPSS way to loop through some variable names? All I want to do is take a list of variables (that I define) and run the same procedure for them:

pseudo-code - not really a good example, but gets the point across...

for i in varlist['a','b','c']
do
  FREQUENCIES VARIABLES=varlist[i] / ORDER=ANALYSIS.
end

I've noticed that people seem to just use R or Python SPSS plugins to achieve this basic array functionality, but I don't know how soon I can get those configured (if ever) on my installation of SPSS.

SPSS has to have some native way to do this...right?

Answer 1

I haven't used SPSS macros very much, but maybe they can get you where you need to be? Check out this site for some examples:

http://spsstools.net/Macros.htm

Also, the SPSS Data Management book may be helpful as well.

Lastly, if memory serves, I think the problem may even be the main example of how to leverage Python inside of SPSS syntax. I have only used Python and SPSS a few times, but it is very handy to have that language accessible if need be.

HTH

Answer 2

If I understand the question correctly, there may be no need to use a looping construct. SPSS commands with a VARIABLES subcommand like FREQUENCIES allow you to specify multiple variables.

The basic syntax for the FREQUENCIES is:

FREQUENCIES
    VARIABLES= varlist [varlist...] 

where [varlist] is a single variable name, multiple space-delimited variable names, a range of consecutive variables specified with the TO keyword, the keyword ALL, or a combination of the previous options.

For example:

FREQUENCIES VARIABLES=VARA

FREQUENCIES VARIABLES=VARA VARB VARC

FREQUENCIES VARIABLES=VARA TO VARC     

FREQ VAR=ALL

FREQ VAR=VARA TO VARC VARM VARX TO VARZ

See SPSS Statistics 17.0 Command Syntax Reference available at http://support.spss.com/ProductsExt/SPSS/Documentation/SPSSforWindows/index.htm

Note that it's been years since I've actually used SPSS.

Answer 3

There are two easy solutions for looping through variables (easier compared to using Python in SPSS).

1) DO REPEAT-END REPEAT

The draw back is that you can use DO REPEAT-END REPEAT mainly only for data transformations - for example COMPUTE, RECODE etc. Frequencies are not allowed. For example:

DO REPEAT R=REGION1 TO REGION5.
COMPUTE R=0.
END REPEAT.

2) DEFINE-!ENDDEFINE (macro facility)

You can do Frequencies in a loop of variables using macro command. For example:

DEFINE macdef (!POS !CHAREND('/'))
!DO !i !IN (!1)
frequencies variables = !i.
!DOEND
!ENDDEFINE.

macdef VAR1 VAR2 VAR3  /.

Answer 4

Yes, SPSS can do this. Sounds like the guys at UCLA use python 'cause they know how to do it in python and not in SPSS. :)

Let's call your variables VARA, VARB, VARC. They must be numerical (since you are doing frequencies) and they must be consecutive in your spss data file. Then you create a vector saying in effect "here is the series of variables I want to loop through".

VECTOR VectorVar = VarA TO VarC.
LOOP #cnt = 1 to 3 by 1.
    FREQUENCIES VARIABLES=VectorVar(#cnt) / ORDER=ANALYSIS
ENDLOOP.
EXECUTE.

(The above has not been tested. Might be missing a period somewhere, etc.)

Answer 5

It's more efficient to do all these frequencies on one data pass, e.g., FREQUENCIES a to c. but Python lets you do looping and lots of other control flow tricks.

begin program.
import spss
for v in ['a','b','c']:
  spss.Submit("FREQUENCIES " + v)
end program.

Using Python requires installing the (free) Python plugin available from SPSS Developer Central, www.spss.com/devcentral.

You can, of course, use macros for this sort of things, but Python is a lot more powerful and easier once you get the hang of it.

Answer 6

How can do this stata sintxis for spss.

foreach var of varlist  pob_multi pob_multimod pob_multiex vul_car vul_ing nopob_nov espacio carencias carencias_3 ic_rezedu ic_asalud ic_ss  ic_cv  ic_sbv ic_ali  pobex pob  {
    tabstat `var' [w=factor] if pob_multi!=., stats(mean) save
    matrix define `var'_pp =(r(StatTotal))
    matrix rownames `var'_pp = `var'_pp
}

matrix tabla1 = (pob_multi_pp \ pob_multimod_pp \ pob_multiex_pp \ vul_car_pp \ vul_ing_pp \ nopob_nov_pp \ espacio_pp \ carencias_pp \ carencias_3_pp \ espacio_pp \ ic_rezedu_pp\ ic_asalud_pp \ ic_ss_pp \ ic_cv_pp \ ic_sbv_pp\ ic_ali_pp \ espacio_pp \ pobex_pp \ pob_pp   )
matrix list tabla1

thanks.