SPSS for Professionals, Researchers & Students

Md. Nurul Huda.

Mobile: 01822346868, 01673314980.
Data Transformation - 2
Recoding Values
We can modify the data values by recoding them, this is particularly useful for collapsing
or combining categories, we can recode the values within existing variables, or we can
create new variables based on the recoded values of existing. That is two types of
recoding are possible.
1) Recode into same variable
2) Recode into different variable

Recode into same variable
Recode into same variables reassigns the values of existing variables ranges of existing
values into new values. For example, we can collapse Marks into Marks Range
categories. We can recode numeric and string variables, but we can not recode numeric
and string variables together. If we select multiple variables, they must be all of the same
type.
To recode values of a variable in to same variable we follow the following steps:
a) From the menus choose:

Transform
Recode
Into same Variables


b) Select the variable which we want to recode. (If we select Multiple variables, they
must all be of the same type, numeric or string).
c) Click Old and New Values.
d) We shall see the recode into Same Variables: Old and New Values dialog
box.

We can define values to recode in this dialog box. All value specifications must be the
same data type (numeric or string) as the variables selected in the main dialog box. The
variable whose value is to be recoded is to be recoded is defined as old Value, but we can
not recode one Old Value into more than one new value.

Illustrative Examples
Example 6:
Suppose we want to define Educational Status on the basis of year of schooling from
the following data using the following specifications:
Year of Schooling new value(code) meaning (value label)
0 =1 =Illiterate
1-5 =2 =Primary
6-10 =3 =Secondary
11-12 =4 =Higher Secondary
13-16 =5 =Graduate
17 =6 =Post Graduate
18+ =7 =Higher
SPSS for Professionals, Researchers & Students

Md. Nurul Huda.
Mobile: 01822346868, 01673314980.

Yearsch
15 6
7 20
14 11
8 10
13 5
0 12
18 16

Now, to recode this data into new values, we follow the following steps:
a) From the menus choose:

Transform
Recode
Into same variables..
This will open the Recode into Some Variable dialog box.
Select yearsch from the variable list (lift window) and then click the arrow on the vertical
bar of the dialog box with the left mouse.
b) Then we click on Old and New Values option.
c) We shall see the Recode into Variables: Old and New Values dialog box.
d) Using the Old value and new value options we recode the variable in our desired
format.
e) Click left mouse button to continue box to return the Recode Into same
Variable dialog box.
f) Click OK.

We shall see that to define the variable yearsch has automatically been recoded on the
existing variable.

Example:7

Suppose we want to define the Social Status on the basis of income Variable given
below using the following specifications:
Income (Monthly) New value(code) meaning (value label)

Less than 3000 =1 =Lower Class
3001-10000 =2 =Lower Middle
10001-25000 =3 =Middle Class
25001-100000 =4 =Higher Middle Class
100001+ =5 =Higher Class
Income
20000 22000
1800 900
35000 7000
56000 32000
SPSS for Professionals, Researchers & Students

Md. Nurul Huda.
Mobile: 01822346868, 01673314980.
3200 125000
17000 45000
78000 245000

Now, to recode this data into new values, we follow the following steps:
a) From the menus choose:

Transform
Recode
Into same variables..
This will open the recode into Same variable dialog box
b) Select income from the variable list (list Window) and then click the arrow on
the vertical bar of the dialog box with the left mouse.
c) Then we click on Old and New values option.
d) We shall see the recode into Same Variables: Old and New Values dialog
box.
e) Using the old value and new value options we recode the variable in our desired
format.
f) Click left mouse button to Continue box to return the Recode into Same
Variable dialog box.
g) Click OK.

We shall see that the variable income has automatically been recoded on the existing
variables or collapses ranges of existing values into new values for recode into Different
Variables
Recode into Different Variables the values of existing variables or collapses ranges of
existing values into new values for a new variable. For example, we can collapse marks
into a new variable containing Marks-Range categories. We can recode numeric and
string variables, but we can not recode numeric and strain variables together. If we select
multiple variables, they must be all of the same type. Also we can recode numeric
variables into string variables and string variables into numeric variables.

To recode values of a variable into different variable we follow the following steps:
a) From the menus choose: Transform Recode Into Different Variables
b) Select the variable which we want to recode. (If we select multiple variables, they
must all be of the same type, numeric or string).
c) Enter an output (new) variable and name for each new variable and click Change.
d) Click Old and new values and specify how to recode values.

We can define values to recode in the Old and New value dialog box. All value
specifications must be the same data type (numeric or string )
We can recode more than one Old Values to one New Value, but we can not recode one
Old Value into more then one new value.

In we want to recode a numeric variable into a string variable, you must also select
Output variables are strings.
SPSS for Professionals, Researchers & Students

Md. Nurul Huda.
Mobile: 01822346868, 01673314980.

Any old values that are not specified are not included in the new variable, and cases with
those values will be assigned, select all Other Values for the old value and Copy old
value(s) for the new value.

Example: 8
Suppose we want to define the Social Status on the basis of Income Variables given
below using the following specifications:

Income (Monthly) New value(code) meaning (value label)

Less than 3000 =1 =Lower Class
3001-10000 =2 =Lower Middle
10001-25000 =3 =Middle Class
25001-100000 =4 =Higher Middle Class
100001+ =5 =Higher Class
Income
20000 22000
1800 900
35000 7000
56000 32000
3200 125000
17000 45000
78000 245000

Now, to recode this data into new values, we follow the following steps:
a) From the menus choose: Transform Recode Into same
variables
This will open the Recode into Same Variable dialog box.
b) Select income from the variable list (list window) and then click the arrow on the
vertical bar of the dialog box with the left mouse.
c) We shall see the variable income in the Numeric variables Output variable box.
d) Write the name of new variable i.e. income on Output variable Name box.
e) Now label the new variable using the Output variable dialog box.
f) Click on Change option.
g) Then we click on Old and New Values option.
h) We shall see the Recode Into Different Variables: Old and New Values dialog
box.
i) Using the Old values and New value options we recode the variable in our
desired format.
j) Click left mouse button to Continue box to return the Recode Into same
Variable dialog box.
k) Click Ok.



SPSS for Professionals, Researchers & Students

Md. Nurul Huda.
Mobile: 01822346868, 01673314980.
Example 9:
Suppose we want to define Educational Status on the basis of year of schooling from
the following data using the following specifications:
Year of Schooling new value(code) meaning (value label)
0 =1 =Illiterate
1-5 =2 =Primary
6-10 =3 =Secondary
11-12 =4 =Higher Secondary
13-16 =5 =Graduate
17 =6 =Post Graduate
18+ =7 =Higher

Yearsch
15 6
7 20
14 11
8 10
13 5
0 12
18 16

Now, to recode this data into new values, we follow the following steps:
g) From the menus choose:

Transform
Recode
Into different variables..
This will open the Recode into Some Variable dialog box.

b). Select yearsch from the variable list (lift window) and then click the arrow on the
vertical bar of the dialog box with the left mouse.
c). We shall see the variable yearsch ? In the Numeric variables Output
variable box.
d). Write the name of new variable i.e. scstatus on Output variable box.
e). Now label the new variable using the Output variable Label: box.
f). Click on change option.

g). Then we click on Old and New Values option.
h) We shall see the Recode into Variables: Old and New Values dialog box.
i) Using the Old value and new value options we recode the variable in our desired
format.
j) Click left mouse button to Continue box to return the Recode Into same
Variable dialog box.
k) Click OK.