First option: Using R

Suppose that you have a file called SPSS_Demo.sav. Using the library foreign, you can open the file and use it in R to make your plot.

The following syntax for example will open an SPSS file, assuming it is in a folder on your hard drive C:. First, set the working directory and the file name with

setwd("c:")
file <- "Demo_SPSS.sav"

Then you are ready to read the file with the help of the foreign library

library(foreign)
data <- read.spss(file, to.data.frame = TRUE)

Finally, ask for a plot with

superbPlot( data, 
    WSFactors      = "Temps(2)",
    variables      = c("time1","time2"),
    plotStyle      = "line",
    adjustments    = list(purpose = "single", 
                          decorrelation = "CA"),
    errorbarParams = list(color = "purple"),
    pointParams    = list( size = 2, color = "purple")
)

Second option: Using SPSS

The recent versions of SPSS comes bundled with an R interpretor. Further, if you open a Syntax window (menu File: New: Syntax), you can send R instructions enclosed within BEGIN PROGRAM R. and END PROGRAM.

To know if your SPSS installation has R installed, you could for example type these instructions:

{r} BEGIN PROGRAM R. # a quick test cat("R is up and running: ", R.version.string, "\n") END PROGRAM.

then select them all and press Ctrl-R to execute. It R is accepted within SPSS, you should see an ouptut indicating the version of R installed. It has to be R above 4.0.

If things are working, then you are ready to make your plot with

```{r} BEGIN PROGRAM R. # this will install superb if needed; may take a few minutes if(!require(superb)) install.packages(“superb”, type=“binary”)

# set the library to be in used
library(superb)  

# transfer the data from SPSS into R
data <- spssdata.GetDataFromSPSS() 

# all good! make a plot using superbPlot()
superbPlot(   data, 
              WSFactors      = "Temps(2)",
              variables      = c("time1","time2"),
              plotStyle      = "line",
              adjustments    = list(purpose = "single", decorrelation = "CA"),
              errorbarParams = list(color = "purple"),
              pointParams    = list( size = 2, color = "purple")
)

END PROGRAM. ```

Here are screen captures showing the syntax window:

Figure 2: Syntax to generate a plot

Third option: Using a graphical user interface

A graphical user interface is available at this link

This interface can read a few file format, including SPSS files. You can consult a Youtube demonstration here.

In summary

The superb framework can be used to display any summary statistics. Here, we showed how superbPlot() can be used with SPSS datasets.

I thank Michael Cantinotti for raising my awarness to the fact that new versions of SPSS can show plots produced within BEGIN PROGRAM R. and END PROGRAM. syntax lines and providing a short example.

References

Cousineau D, Goulet M, Harding B (2021). “Summary plots with adjusted error bars: The superb framework with an implementation in R.” Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 2021, 1–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/25152459211035109

Walker, J. A. L. (2021). “Summary plots with adjusted error bars (superb).” Youtube video, accessible here).