Chapter 5 SPSS Instructions
Binomial Probabilities
1.
A. (Replicating Example 5.7a) From the menu choose Transform > Compute Variable.
Note: In order to access the commands, SPSS must “view” data on the spreadsheet. For
this purpose, we enter a value of zero in the top left cell.
B. In the Compute Variable window, type pdfbinomial as Target Variable. Since we are
calculating 𝑃(𝑋 = 5), under Function group, select PDF & Noncentral PDF and under
Functions and Special Variables, double-click on Pdf.Binom. In the Numeric
Expression box, enter 5 for quant, 100 for n, and 0.047 for prob. Then click OK.
C. SPSS returns the formula result as 0.1783; thus, P  X  5  0.1783 .
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2.
A. (Replicating Example 5.7b) From the menu choose Transform > Compute Variable.
Note: In order to access the commands, SPSS must “view” data on the spreadsheet. For
this purpose, we enter a value of zero in the top left cell.
B. In the Compute Variable window, type cdfbinomial as Target Variable. Under Function
group select CDF & Noncentral CDF, and under Functions and Special Variables
double-click on Cdf.Binom. In the Numeric Expression box, enter 5 for quant, 100 for
n, and 0.047 for prob. Then click OK.
C. SPSS returns the formula result as 0.6697; thus, P  X  5  0.6697 .
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Poisson Probabilities
1.
A. (Replicating Example 5.9a) From the menu choose Transform > Compute Variable.
B. Type cdfpoisson as Target Variable. Since we are calculating 𝑃(𝑋 ≤ 100 ), under
Function group select CDF & Noncentral CDF, and under Functions and Special
Variables, double-click on Cdf.Poisson. In the Numeric Expression box, enter 100 for
quant and 114 for Mean. Then click OK.
C. SPSS returns the formula result as 0.1012; thus, P  X  100  0.1012 .
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2.
A. (Replicating Example 5.9b) From the menu choose Transform > Compute Variable.
B. Type pdfpoisson as Target Variable. Since we are calculating 𝑃(𝑋 = 115 ), under
Function group under Function group select PDF & Noncentral PDF, and under
Functions and Special Variables double-click on Pdf.Poisson. In the Numeric
Expression box, enter 115 for quant and 114 for Mean. Then click OK.
C. SPSS returns the formula result as 0.0370; thus, P  X  115  0.0370 .
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Hypergeometric Probabilities
A. (Replicating Example 5.10a) From the menu choose Transform > Compute Variable.
B. Type pdfhyper as Target Variable. Since we are calculating 𝑃(𝑋 = 1), under Function
group select PDF & Noncentral PDF, and under Functions and Special Variables,
double-click on Pdf.Hyper. (For cumulative probabilities, under Function group select
CDF & Noncentral CDF, and under Functions and Special Variables double-click on
Cdf.Hyper.) In the Numeric Expression box, enter 1 for quant, 20 for total, 5 for
sample, and 2 for hits. Then click OK.
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C. SPSS returns the formula result as 0.3947; thus, P  X  1  0.3947 .
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