title: Using a computer to perform statistical analysis.
abstract: SPSS, and other statistical packages, make it easy to perform complex statistical analysis, but even simple analysis such as tables and graphical output are much simpler using such a package. Use of such a package does, unfortunately, also allow you to perform meaningless statistics and incorrect statistical tests, and give misleading or wrong interpretations. You will still need to understand some statistics, but you will not need to be able to compute the results yourself. A statistics package allows you to concentrate on the appropriateness of a test and interpretation of the results. It does not do the whole job for you.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery, De Montfort University, UK.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anthony
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012984:Software / Q000592:standards / Q000600:supply & distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data