Splitting Data by a Variable

Last updated on March 8, 2022

If you want to calculate any statistics split into the different categories of a variable, you can do this easily in SPSS. All you need to do is the following:

1. Click on “Data” from the pull-down menus
2. Click on “split file” found almost all the way at the bottom of the list of commands
3. Toggle the circle at the top that says “Compare groups”
4. You will now be allowed to move the variable you want to split your data by, from the box on the left into the “Groups Based on:” box on the right .
   • for example, if you want separate statistics for men and for women, move the variable “Sex of respondent” to the “Groups Based on:” box.
5. Leave the “sort the file by grouping variables” box toggled
6. Click ok
7. Not much will happen at first, but when you then calculate any statistics, your results will be grouped by your variable (e.g. men and women).

Here, I made a video to show you the steps I just described: