SPSS 9: Picture-Pretty Statistical Analysis

Long popular with scientists and statisticians, SPSS statistical analysis software in recent years has become useful for businesspeople as well. SPSS 9 ($795) not only boasts visuals on a par with the best business presentation packages, it also provides wizards for importing all sorts of data and introduces powerful techniques that are moving from statistics cubbyholes into marketing departments. I looked at a preproduction copy.

Graphics, which can now be generated from tables with a few mouse clicks, include basics like the stacked-bar chart shown above. But new options abound. Sophisticated users will appreciate 3D spike charts for a detailed look at a proposed model's fit to data; business users will enjoy creating USA Today­style charts with bars made of symbols (flags, dollar signs, barrels, and so forth). Using features from the top-notch graphing program DeltaGraph (which SPSS now owns), SPSS 9 acquires a boardroom look to go with its business smarts.

SPSS's basic package now includes some advanced statistical topics from its series of SPSS modules ($495 each). If you're still exploring statistical functions in Microsoft Excel, you may know little about things like multinomial logistic regression. But that function is a powerful business decision-making tool, and it's now part of the basic package. Advanced users should consider the Trends module for forecasting, and Exact Tests (or its industrial-strength companions StatXact and LogXact) for squeezing the most out of surveys and market tests.

Version 9's combination of powerful statistical methods and graphic output, ranging from austerely scientific to trade-show flashy, makes it the only program you need for finding patterns in business data and using them to convince people you're right.

SUMMARY

SPSS 9 PRO: Impressive business-presentation graphics, best introduction to new applied-statistical methods. CON: Not for casual users. VALUE: Serious but worthwhile investment. $795 SPSS 800/543-2185 www.spss.com