Introduction to group variables

You can link similar questions into a group. This means that you can then analyse the group of questions as a whole. For example, if you have a series of questions on aspects of personality, you could group all the questions associated with team working together, and use them as a single axis for tables or charts.

Group variables may be used to create summary analyses of a number of variables which share a common code list such as might be found in a question grid.

For example, you could create a horizontal stacked bar chart to show the results of respondents’ opinion of five aspects of service offered.

You can use Group variables to include a summary of all five variables in the same chart. All responses will be added together when calculating means, so variables with a larger number of responses will have a larger percentage.

1. Click on the main toolbar to open the Analysis variables window.
2. Click and select New Group Variable from the drop-down list. The Group Variable Details dialog opens.

3. Give the group variable:
   • Name: GV2
   • Label: Overall opinion
   • Source: list the variables to group e.g. Q6a~Q6e, or Q1, Q5, Q8

4. Click to save the variable.
5. It appears in the list of analysis variables.

6. Click to display the Variables window.
7. Click to add a new variable. This is a blank variable that you can use to insert a blank line in your chart.
8. Specify the Variable Details:
   • Name: Blank
   • Label: Calculated difference
   • Type: Derived (the variable will derive its data from other existing variables).
   • Response: Single (there will be one response for each case).

9. Click to save the new variable.
10. Click to build a chart.
11. Specify the Definition details:
    • Style: Horizontal Stacked Bar Percent Transposed
    • Analysis: GV2, Blank, Q6a, Q6b, Q6c, Q6d, Q6e
    • Transpose: Checked
    • Show Options: Check Analysis Percents

12. Select the Cells tab and set the decimal places for the Percentages to 2. This reduces rounding errors when calculating the percentages.

13. Click OK to display the chart.