Reflecting a Variable in SPSS
Anne administered a questionnaire which includes items that comprise a scale
intended to measure contingent self esteem. Some of the items need to be reflected
(reverse scored). Item value 5 needs to be changed to item value 1, 4 to 2, 3
unchanged, 2 to 4, and 1 to 5. The cumbersome way to do this in SPSS is to use the
recode transformation. I’ll show you the easy way using the compute function. All you
need to do is replace the item score (IS) with (k + 1)-IS, where k is the largest possible
item value. In this case, you wish to transform IS to 6-IS. I illustrate using variable
“cse1.” Look at the initial distribution of responses on cse1:
cse1
Valid
1 Not at all like me
2 Somewhat unlike me
3 Neutral
4 Somewhat like me
5 Very much like me
Total
Frequency
6
32
131
171
53
393
Percent
1.5
8.1
33.3
43.5
13.5
100.0
Valid Percent
1.5
8.1
33.3
43.5
13.5
100.0
Cumulative
Percent
1.5
9.7
43.0
86.5
100.0
In the data editor, click Transform, Compute. In the Compute Variable window,
enter ‘cse’ as the target variable. As numeric expression, enter “6-cse1.” Click OK.
When SPSS asks “Change existing variable?” indicate OK.
Now look at the transformed distribution of cse1:
cse1
Valid
1 Not at all like me
2 Somewhat unlike me
3 Neutral
4 Somewhat like me
5 Very much like me
Total
Frequency
53
171
131
32
6
393
Percent
13.5
43.5
33.3
8.1
1.5
100.0
Valid Percent
13.5
43.5
33.3
8.1
1.5
100.0
Cumulative
Percent
13.5
57.0
90.3
98.5
100.0
And now the cumbersome way. From the data editor, Transform, Recode, Into
Same Variables. Scoot ‘cse1’ into Numeric Variables and click Old and New Values:
Enter Old Value Value 1, New Value Value 5, click Add. Old 2, New 4, Add, Old
4, New 2, Add, Old 5, New 1, Add.
Continue, OK.
SPSS Lessons
Karl L. Wuensch, Dept. of Psychology, East Carolina Univ., Greenville, NC 27858 USA
January, 2006