Like SAS, SPSS produces output, but unlike SAS, SPSS is typically manipulated by the user through

selections in menus rather than through writing code and running it. SPSS produces one long output file

that includes all the output from each SPSS session. In the output file, SPSS includes code it writes

automatically from the way you manipulate the menu. Therefore, like with SAS, it is possible to save

SPSS code files and output files and rerun the same code later. SPSS is available from IBM’s website

at www.ibm.com/products/spss-statistics/pricing.

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel has been used in some domains for statistical calculations, but it is difficult to use

with large datasets. Excel has built-in functions for summarizing data (such as calculating means and

standard deviations talked about in Chapter 9). It also has common probability distribution functions

such as Student t (Chapter 11) and chi-square (Chapter 12). You can even do straight-line regression

(Chapter 16), as well as more extensive analyses available through add-ins.

These functions can come in handy when doing quick calculations or learning about statistics,

but using Excel for statistical projects evokes many challenges. Using a spreadsheet for statistics

means your data are stored in the same place as your calculations, creating privacy concerns (and

a mess!). So, while Excel can be helpful mathematically — especially when making extra

calculations based on estimates in printed statistical output — it is not a good practice to use it

for extensive statistical projects.

Microsoft Excel is available in different formats, including both downloadable and web based.

Purchase it from Microsoft at www.microsoft.com.

Online analytics platforms

A more modern approach to statistical software is to create an online platform known as an analytics

suite that allows you to connect to data sources and conduct analytics online. Here are a few popular

online platforms:

Tableau: Tableau is known for being able to provide real-time data-driven graphical displays

online, and organizations may adopt Tableau to develop customized dashboards. It is available at

www.tableau.com.

GraphPad: This online platform provides analytics support, such as curve-fitting, and provides a

graphical suite called Prism. It is available at www.graphpad.com.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to using these online commercial platforms.

Advantages include that online software tends to follow a cheaper subscription paid monthly or

annually, and you get continuous upgrades because the software is web based. The main

downside is these platforms have a high learning curve and require a lot of work to fully adopt,

so you have to ask yourself if it makes sense with your project.