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2.6.1.5. SPSS: Binning from a scale variable

Below are the steps to convert a scale variable into a binned version (i.e. to create categories). This can be done by using the Visual Binning option or by using Recode into Different Variables.

After the binning you can create a frequency table (or cross table) from the binned variable which creates an output as shown below.

SPSS 23 Output of a binned variable frequency table
Figure 1. SPSS 23 Output of a binned variable frequency table

 

Using Visual Binning

Detailed instructions with screenshots can be found in this PDF, or you can watch the video on the right. Below are the basic steps.

  1. Click in the menubar on Transform
  2. Click on Visual Binning
  3. Click on the scale variable(s) you want to bin
  4. Move them to the Variables to bin section
  5. Click on Continue
  6. Enter a name for the new binned variable
  7. Select if you want the upper endpoint to be included (e.g. 0 ≤ 10) or excluded (e.g. 0 < 10)
  8. Click on Make Cutpoints
  9. Three main options are available to create the bins. Either by the width interval, based on percentiles, or based on standard deviations.
    1. If you choose to use a fixed interval width:
      1. Enter the value at which the first cutpoint should be placed
      2. Enter either the number of cutpoints or the width (as soon as you enter one, the other will be filled out).
    2. If you choose to use percentiles:
      1. Enter either the number of cutpoints or the Width % (as soon as you enter one, the other will be filled out)
    3. If you choose to use based on standard deviations
      1. Select if you want them to be based on 1, 2 and/or 3 standard deviations
  10. Click on Apply
  11. Click on Make Labels
  12. Click on OK
  13. Click on OK
 
Using Recode into Different Variables

Detailed instructions with screenshots can be found in this PDF, or you can watch the video on the right. Below are the basic steps.

  1. Click in the menubar on Transform
  2. Click on Recode into Different Variables
  3. Click on the variable(s) you want to bin
  4. Move them to the Input(Variable -> Output variable section
  5. Enter a name and label for the new binned variable
  6. Click on Old and New Values
  7. On the left use the options to enter the first bin
  8. On the right enter 1 (for 1st bin) at Value
  9. Click on Add
  10. Repeat steps 7 till 9 till you've entered each bin
  11. Click on Continue
  12. Click on Change
  13. Click on OK
  14. Go to the bottom of the list of variables in the Variable View to see the new binned variable
  15. Change the number of decimals for this new variable to 0
  16. Enter at the values for the new binned variable the description of each bin