Creating a Bar Chart using SPSS

Objectives

A bar chart is helpful in graphically describing (visualizing) your data; it will often be used in addition to inferential statistics (see our Descriptive and Inferential Statistics guide). A bar chart can be appropriate if you are running an Independent T-Test or Dependent T-Test. The example we will use is based on the data from our Independent T-Test guide.

Test Procedure in SPSS

1. Click Graphs > Chart Builder... on the top menu as shown below:
   

   Published with written permission from SPSS Inc, an IBM Company.

2. You will be presented with the following screen:
   

   Published with written permission from SPSS Inc, an IBM Company.

3. Under the Gallery Tab () select the Bar option and the simple bar chart icon (top-left icon). Drag-and-drop this icon into the Chart Preview Area.
   

   Published with written permission from SPSS Inc, an IBM Company.

4. You will be presented with the following dialog boxes: Chart Builder and Element Properties. As you can see, the Chart Preview Area has been populated with a template of a simple bar chart.
   

   Published with written permission from SPSS Inc, an IBM Company.

5. Transfer the independent variable, Treatment, into the "X-Axis?" box and the dependent (outcome) variable, Cholesterol Concentration, into the "Y-Axis?" box within the Preview Chart Area by drag-and-dropping the variables from the "Variables:" box.
   

   Published with written permission from SPSS Inc, an IBM Company.