Data Transformations COMPUTE and RECODE Commands

We generally do data transformations when information is not collected in a format suitable for analysis using inferential statistics.

COMPUTE Use when you what to perform a mathematical operation on a continuous variable and assign the resulting value to a NEW continuous variable Add Subtract Multiply Divide Calculate a series of operations

COMPUTE

RECODE into the same variable Use when you want to change the VALUES of a categorical or continuous variable. For example, reverse code situations (i.e., change value “1” of variable QU2 into value “5” of variable QU2) IMPORTANT—Once values are changed, the change is PERMANENT. That is, the original values are lost.

RECODE into the same variable

RECODE into a different variable Use when you want to change the VALUES of a categorical or continuous variable and assign them to a NEW categorical or continuous variable. For example, collapse categories (i.e., change values “1-7” of variable QU2 into values “1-4” of variable NQU2)

RECODE into a different variable

RECODE a string variable to a numeric variable Use when you want to change categorical values expressed as WORDS into continuous values For example, changing “never” into “9.00” IMPORTANT—The word must be typed EXACTLY how it appears in the data editor

RECODE a string variable to a numeric variable

Tutorial Links COMPUTE RECODE into same variable RECODE into different variable RECODE string variable