The Analyze menu contains a list of general reporting and statistical analysis categories. Most of the categories are followed by an arrow, which indicates that there are several analysis procedures available within the category; they will appear on a submenu when the category is picked.

We'll start with a simple frequency table (table of counts).

From the menus choose:

Analyze
Descriptive Statistics
Frequencies

This opens the Frequencies dialog box.

A more complete description of each variable pops up when the cursor is over it. The variable name (in square brackets) is inccat, and it has the variable label Income category. If there were no variable label, only the variable name would appear in the list box. In the dialog box, you choose the variables you want to analyze from the source list on the left, and move them into the Variable(s) list on the right. The OK button, which runs the analysis, is disabled until at least one variable is placed in the Variable(s) list. Additional labeling information can be easily obtained for any variable on the list by clicking on the variable name with the right mouse button.

For example, you could click the right mouse button on Income Category [inccat], and then click (left mouse button) Variable Information.

Click the down arrow on the drop-down Value Labels list.

All the defined value labels for the variable are displayed.

Click Gender [gender] in the source variable list, then click the right-arrow button to move the variable into the target Variable(s) list.

Then click Income category [inccat] in the source list and click the right arrow button again.

A pound sign (#) icon next to the variable name indicates the variable is numeric. An icon with the letter "A" indicates the variable is a string (alphanumeric) variable, which may contain both letters and numbers. A less-than sign (left angle bracket) indicates the variable is a short string, containing 8 or less characters. Click OK to run the procedure.