No doubt the choice of this particular language arises from its acceptance and enhancement by the scientific community (as demonstrated by the development of SciPy and NumPy, for example). While you can still do this, version 16 adds the ability to control SPSS via the Python language. New language and abilitiesīefore the advent of the graphical user interface, statistical program users were forced to script their computations using the notoriously awkward SPSS syntax. The program maintains the traditional SPSS layout, but it isn’t quite as aesthetically pleasing as most native Mac programs. The Data Editor and other user interface items have been revised using Java. The data editor didn’t hiccup-a testament to the strength of the program’s Java implementation-so I was able to easily browse and edit all 5 million rows.

Using a MacBook Pro, I was able to compute a multi-factor ANOVA on this massive data set in just under 10 seconds. To put both SPSS’s statistical engine and its user interface to the test, I created a 5 million-row, 10-variable data file to import and analyze.

Materials on common subjects are spread throughout tutorials and references, with only sparse cross- referencing.Īmong my colleagues, one frequently heard plaint is that desktop versions of the major statistical packages can’t deal with the massive data sets that their mainframe parents can handle. It is very complete but suffers from a lack of organization that might daunt novice users. The Web browser-based help system also feels a little bit clunky. Thus, users won’t be totally unfamiliar with the interface, but it does lack the polish of most Apple software. Things aren’t as bad as they could be in this department, since Apple is responsible for the Java implementation in Mac OS X. However, this consistency comes at the cost of aesthetics-the application has a clear Java look and feel. In fact, several procedures have been optimized for multithreading on modern multicore processors, including the regression, correlation, and factor analysis modules.Įducators, especially those who teach in multiplatform environments, will be happy with the consistency across the product line. The core statistical calculations are still done using platform-specific compiled code, ensuring efficient computation. These changes are primarily due to the complete re-implementation of the user interface in Java. (The old menu-driven chart-building system remains an option for those who prefer it.)With the release of version 16, SPSS has made changes to the product that should ensure smoother transitions in the future and, even better, keep the Mac version in sync with the program’s Windows and Linux versions.

SPSS 16 includes a new interactive chart-building system that makes it easier to create graphics than it was in previous versions.

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