Unit 2 · Describe your data

How to check normality in SPSS with Explore

Run Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests in SPSS, check skewness and kurtosis z-scores, and read Q-Q plots.

Pro lessonAbout 5 minutes7 practice questions

The Explore dialog

Many tests assume your data are roughly normal. Analyze › Descriptive Statistics › Explore checks this with statistics, tests and plots in one go.

Explore

Variables

Participant ID [id]

Age in years [age]

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Dependent List:1

Exam score (%) [score]

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Factor List:2

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Label Cases by:

Statistics…Plots…3Options…Bootstrap…

Display:

✓Both

Statistics

Plots

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1
Dependent ListThe Scale variable you want to check, such as score.
2
Factor ListOptional. Add a grouping variable to check normality separately for each group, which is what t-tests and ANOVA actually assume.
3
Plots…Tick Normality plots with tests. This adds the Shapiro-Wilk test and Q-Q plots. Histogram is useful too.

1 more annotated SPSS screen and 7 interactive practice questions are part of Pro, along with every other unit and unlimited hearts.