What Are Descriptive Statistics?
Descriptive statistics summarize and organize data so it can be easily understood. They describe the basic features of the data without making conclusions beyond the data itself.
Analyzing Demographic Variables
For categorical variables (gender, education, age groups):
SPSS Path: Analyze → Descriptive Statistics → Frequencies
- Select your demographic variables
- Click Charts → select Bar Chart or Pie Chart
- Click OK
This produces frequency tables showing counts and percentages for each category.
Analyzing Likert Scale Items
For each item and each dimension, you need:
SPSS Path: Analyze → Descriptive Statistics → Descriptives
- Select your Likert items or dimension averages
- Click Options → check Mean, Std. Deviation, Minimum, Maximum
- Click OK
Interpreting Likert Scale Means
For a 5-point Likert scale, interpret the mean as follows:
| Mean Range | Level | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00 – 1.80 | Very Low | Strongly Disagree |
| 1.81 – 2.60 | Low | Disagree |
| 2.61 – 3.40 | Moderate | Neutral |
| 3.41 – 4.20 | High | Agree |
| 4.21 – 5.00 | Very High | Strongly Agree |
Standard Deviation
The standard deviation (SD) measures how spread out the responses are:
- Low SD (< 1.0): Responses are clustered together — respondents agree
- High SD (> 1.0): Responses are spread out — respondents have diverse opinions
Creating Summary Tables
For your research report, create a table like this for each dimension:
| Item | Mean | SD | Level | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I am satisfied with my job | 4.12 | 0.87 | High | 1 |
| My workplace is comfortable | 3.85 | 0.92 | High | 2 |
| I receive adequate training | 3.21 | 1.15 | Moderate | 3 |
| Overall Dimension | 3.73 | 0.78 | High |
Charts and Graphs
SPSS allows you to create various charts:
- Bar charts: For comparing means across groups
- Pie charts: For showing proportions of demographic categories
- Histograms: For showing data distribution
SPSS Path: Graphs → Chart Builder → Select chart type → Drag variables
Tip: Always report both the mean AND standard deviation. The mean tells you the central tendency, while the SD tells you the variability. Both are essential for a complete picture.