SPSS can be used to transform raw data from different scales into standardized data on one scale based on the z distribution, allowing us to look at standardized scores instead of raw scores. We can try this using the numbers of first- or second-place finishes for countries that participated in the World Cup from Chapter 2. The data are: 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, and 1. In addition, 64 countries had 0 first- or second-place finishes. Enter the 80 data points in one column in SPSS. We titled the column “top_finishes.”

To standardize the variable “top_finishes,” select: Analyze → Descriptive Statistics → Descriptives. Select the relevant variable by clicking it on the left side, then clicking the arrow to move it to the right. Check the “Save standardized values as variables” box and click “OK.” Part of the new column of standardized variables under the heading “Ztop_finishes” is in the accompanying screenshot.

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