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Research Computing Support

SPSS Statistics by SPSS, an IBM company



What is it? SPSS Statistics is the most widely used statistics package at UT. It does a broad range of statistics and graphics, and it is easy to learn and use. It is also easy to transfer data from SPSS into R or SAS to access any esoteric analyses. While most users prefer the SPSS easy-to-use GUI interface, more advanced users can take advantage of its programming language. The SPSS programming language can be used to automate repetitive tasks, to leave an audit trail of the steps you took, and to get the package to do something that it was not originally designed to do.

What can I use it for? Enrolled students, faculty, and staff can use SPSS for university-related teaching and academic research purposes. SPSS may not be used for commercial research or administrative purposes. Use that benefits outside organizations requires the purchase of a commercial license.

Where can I run it? SPSS is available at no additional charge to faculty, staff and students at all UT campuses for installation on university-owned and personally-owned Windows, Macs and Linux computers. The download and installation instructions are available at the OIT Software Download web page. For UTK, SPSS is also available on OIT’s Apps@UT server, and on the computers in the OIT public computer labs. There is no simultaneous user limit for SPSS.

How can I learn it? OIT offers workshops on SPSS each semester, and you may schedule a one-on-one tutorial by calling the OIT HelpDesk at 865-974-9900. There is also an introductory tutorial available in SPSS under Help. The other help files are also very detailed and easy to learn from. The LinkedIn Learning  online training library offers SPSS training videos to registered members. YouTube also contains thousands of SPSS tutorials in many different languages.

Where can I get support? OIT offers Full Support to University of Tennessee, Knoxville-area students, faculty, and staff for SPSS. You can request assistance from the OIT HelpDesk at 865-974-9900.


Updated 4/13/2023