Basic Course on SPSS for Data Analysis and Interpretation of Outputs | Cohort 06

1. Course description

SPSS is one of the widely used, reliable and strong data analysis software. The “Basic course on SPSS for data analysis and interpretation of outputs” intends to provide hands-on-training to enhance the understanding and skills of the participants on how to use SPSS for data processing, analysis and interpretation of outputs. The computer sessions will be supported with theoretical concepts on biostatistics and epidemiology, especially the use of statistical and epidemiological methods for testing hypothesis. The course would include practical sessions on SPSS for the analysis of data.

2. Objectives

The aim of this course is to develop skilled professionals in field of research, especially for data analysis. The overall objective of the course is to empower the participants with necessary but specific knowledge and skills on the use of SPSS for data analysis related to health and social sciences research. On completion of the course, the participants are expected to be able to:

  1. Use SPSS for data entry, data cleaning and data management;
  2. Select appropriate statistical test(s) for hypothesis testing;
  3. Use SPSS to analyze data using univariate, bivariate and multivariable statistical methods; and  
  4. Interpret the outputs of data analysis.

3. Course outline

The following topics (statistical methods) that are commonly used in health and social sciences research will be covered in this course.

3.1 Descriptive statistics:

  • Central tendency and dispersion including quartile and percentile
  • Data management (data cleaning, recoding, transformation, etc.) 

3.2 Hypothesis testing:

Both parametric and non-parametric methods for testing hypothesis will be covered in this course. For hypothesis testing, emphasis will be given on what statistics to be used in what situation, how to perform the statistical test by SPSS, and interpret the outputs. For hypothesis testing, following statistical methods will be covered.

3.2.1 Bivariate analysis:

  • Student’s t-test (independent samples and paired t-test)
  • One-way ANOVA
  • Chi-square test
  • Correlation (Pearson’s correlation and Spearman’s correlation)
  • Simple linear regression

3.2.2 Multivariable analysis:

  • Logistic regression

3.2.3 Non-parametric methods:

  • Mann-Whitney U test
  • Wilcoxon signed ranks test
  • Kruskal-Wallis test

3.2.4 Others:

  • How to understand that the data have come from a normally distributed population (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and Shapiro-Wilk test)
  • Reliability of measurement scale: Cronbach’s Alpha 

4. Course materials

The participants will be provided with a paperback SPSS book free of charge. Several hypothetical data sets that will be used during training sessions will be provided to the participants for practice.

5. Duration & time

The whole course will be covered in 8 sessions. Each session will be of 2 hours and 30 minutes (from 7:15 PM to 9:45 PM Bangladesh Time). The sessions will be organized once a week (Saturday). The course will be held from 03 August to 21 September 2024.

6. Course fee

The course fee is BDT 4,000 for Bangladeshi participants and USD 60 for international participants. The funds generated from the course fees after the cost is deducted will go to charity. The facilitators will not take any honorarium. The participants are, therefore, indirectly contributing to charity.

7. Requirements

Applications should have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in social science, public health, medical science, biological science or any other discipline with interest in data management and analysis.

Please download:

8. Registration

Step 1: Applicants who live in Bangladesh will send us the course fee through either bKash or Bank, whereas applicants who live outside Bangladesh will send us the course fee only through Bank.

bKash Number: 01312-512501 

Account Name: Centre for Development Action

Account No: 4443802000630

Bank Name: Sonali Bank Limited

Branch: Mirpur Industrial Area, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Routing No: 200263047

Applicants are requested to call at 01312-512501 after sending the money for confirmation.

Step 2: Applicants will send the completed Application Form and Money Receipt to

cdatraining.bd@gmail.com.

Step 3: We will send back the applicants a signed Money Receipt just after receiving the completed Application Form and Money Receipt.

However, the number of seats for this course is maximum 30. The registration deadline is 27 July 2024.

9.Training modality

The training will be conducted online via Zoom platform. The participants should have a computer/laptop with internet connection with SPSS software installed.

10. Certification and course evaluation

Each participant will be awarded with a certificate only after successful completion of the course. The course will be evaluated by the participants at the end of the course. The evaluation will be made through self-administered questionnaire as well as open discussions. The participants’ feedback will be considered to enrich the course in future.

11. Facilitators

  • Prof. Dr. Md. Tajul Islam, Course Director
    MBBS, DTM&H, MCTM, MPH (Mahidol University, Thailand)
    Professor (Adjunct), Department of Public Health, North South University
    & Former Technical Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA
  • Dr. Russell Kabir
    BDS, MPH, MSc, FHEA, FRSS, PhD (Middlesex University, UK)
    Associate Professor, Department of Allied and Public Health, Anglia Ruskin University, UK

12. Advisors

  • Dr. SM Anwar Sadat, FCPS, MS (OMS), MCPS, BDS
    Associate Professor, Dhaka Dental College
  • Dr. Md. Naymul Hasan, MD (Gastroenterology), MBBS, BCS
    Assistant Professor, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College, Bogura

13. Contact

For further information, please contact:
Md. Golam Kibria, MPH
Course Coordinator &
Executive Director, CDA
Email: kibria@cda-bd.org
Cell: +88 01312 512 501