Run a frequency distribution
on the original variable.
Decide how the variable
should be recoded
Think
logically and theoretically
Begin the recode
1. Go to Transform
pull down menu
2. Select Recode
3. From Recode sub-menu
select Into different variable
4. Highlight variable of
interest from variable list on left side of window
5. Click arrow button to move
variable into box titled
“Input Variable à Output Variable”
6. Decide what to call the
new variable
7. Type new variable name in
box titled “Output Variable Name”
8. Click “Old and New Values”
button
9. Specify old value(s) to
change and assign new value(s)
10. Click “Add” button
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10
until finished
12. When finished
changing values, click “All other values” from the
Old Value side and click “System
Missing” from the New Value side
13. Click “Add” button
14. Click “Continue” button
15. Click “Change” button
16. Click “OK” button
Assign labels to values of
new variable
1. Decide what labels should
represent which values
2. Go to Variable View
3. Scroll to new variable at
the bottom of the list of variables (last row)
4. Go to the Label column
5. Click the gray box on the
right-hand side of column
6. Create and add labels for
each value on new variable
7. Click “OK” button
Run a frequency distribution
on the new variable
Check that recode has been
done correctly by comparing new frequency
distribution with original
frequency distribution.