A step by step guide to recoding AGE variables into generational groups in SPSS. Screenshots of every step is provided in an easy to follow tutorial of how to change or transform a list of ages into generational categories in SPSS

1. HOW TO RECODE THE AGE
VARIABLE
in SPSS
Ruth M. Tappin © 2013
1
Permission is granted for the use of this presentation for any purpose.
Please attribute according to appropriate APA, MLA or other formatting
conventions

2. Precautionary Message:
2
 After re-coding, please remember to choose the right measurement for
your new variable!
 NOTE: Check the codes for your missing values. You may have to recode
those if you have the Silent Generation in the 90 range, for example.
 You will have to decide if you will include them, or treat them as outliers
and possibly select them out.
 The generational groups are:
 GenY = 18 – 27
 GENX = 28 (NOT 27) – 43
 Boomers = 44 – 60
 Traditional (Silent) = 61 – * (89 was actually chosen as a cut-off date for this group see
notes below)

3. Step 1: Click on highlighted areas
3

4. •You will see this box
•Choose the variable that you want to recode. In this case, AGE
4

5. 1) Type a new name for the variable, e.g. “age1”
2) Under label type “Age Recoded to Generational Groups”
3) Click on “Change”
4) Click on “Old and New Values”
5

6. This window will open. The two value buttons will be highlighted. Leave as
is. The old value one will disappear after the subsequent choice.
6

7. a) Click on “Range”. Type in “18”
b) and “27” as shown. This is the age range for Generation Y
c) In “Value” box, type in 1
d) Click on “Add” button. This will bring you to the next screen.
7

8. • The age range of 18 thru 27 has now been transferred to the Old -> New window
• Add another range (e.g. 28 through 43, which is Generation X). Click “ADD”
• Type “2” in Value box, under “NEW Value”
• Repeat for each range of years. Number each group consecutively
8

9. The third age range of 44 – 60 is shown.
This range will be added when you click “Add”
9

10. 10
Follow the previous procedures and you will get the following result.
Click on “Continue”. You will return to the original “Recode into New Variables”
window (next slide)

11. Click “OK”
11

12. You will get this syntax read out that tells you what you just did.
12

13. • Click on the “Variable View” at the bottom of your screen and scroll all the way down
• You will see the new variable “age1”
• NOTE!! Save your data under a new name! (e.g. GSS1-2006_Recoded)
13

14. Look at the highlighted area under “Values”.
Click on it. A blue button will appear.
Click on the blue button. A new window will appear.
14

15. This is where each age group will be labeled
15

16. 16
Type “1” for the first label (genY).
Click “Add”

17. 17
• In “Value” box type “2”. In “Label” box type “genX”
• NEXT: In “Value” box type “3”. In “label box” type “genBoom”
• NEXT: In “Value” box type “4”. In “label box” type “genTrad/Slnt”
• Click on “OK”
• NOTE: If you need to change or remove something, click of the item and make
choice

18. 18
• All labels have now been entered
•Click “OK”. You will return to the “Variable View” window

19. 19
• At the “Variable View”
• Click on blue button that will appear in the highlighted “Label” box
• You will see the labels for each of the values
• You will now run a Frequency analysis…

20. 20
• Go to “Analyze”
• Choose “Descriptive” > “Frequencies”

21. 21
Scroll down to the bottom of the variables list.
Choose “Age Recoded…”
Transfer to “Variable(s)” window
You will come to the next screen

22. 22
Click on “OK”
(This is just a quick check, do not choose any frequencies to run)
NOTE: Measurement level on Age Recoded has not been changed.

23. 23
Congratulations!! You have now learned how to recode variables into
groups with specified ranges!
(Please read the cautionary message in the next slide)
NOTE: Remember to choose the appropriate measurement level for
age1 before actually running any analyses!

24. CAUTIONARY MESSAGE!
24
 Please remember to choose the right measurement for
your new “age1” variable!
The generational groups are:
GenY = 18 – 27
GENX = 28 – 43
Boomers = 44 – 60
Traditional (Silent) = 61 – *
 NOTE: You may have to choose an end range for the
Traditional/Silent Generation grouping.
 NOTE: Check the codes for missing values in your dataset.
You may have to recode those so that they will not conflict
with ages that are 90+ (see NOTES section in this slide).