You need to categorize the answer. You go to "transform", then "recode in different variable" or "recode in the same variable". Then you will be asked for new values. For instance, income between 10.000$ and 20000$ = 1, etc / European nationalities=1, Asian nationalities=2 etc. The new categories might collect the most common answers and, if case, create a category "others" for those less common. Note that income variable might also be analysed as numerical variable. 

You need to categorize the answer. You go to "transform", then "recode in different variable" or "recode in the same variable". Then you will be asked for new values. For instance, income between 10.000$ and 20000$ = 1, etc / European nationalities=1, Asian nationalities=2 etc. The new categories might collect the most common answers and, if case, create a category "others" for those less common. Note that income variable might also be analysed as numerical variable. 

Hello,

You definitely need categories for this purpose. Regarding income if you create them you are also less 'invasive' asking this question because you do not demand the exact figure. It could lead to a higher proportion of missing values in your questionnaire for example. American you MAY divide additionally in African American, Hispanic America, European American, etc. if needed.

Nationality example was explained above in detail.

Regards, Witold

This issue should be worked out well ahead of time, and included in the questionnaire so that you don't have this kind of problem.

I agree with Dr Orlik. You need to create a code-book so that each class of nationality has a code number and you can refer to the code-book to decide what code to apply to each case. Almost certainly you will have to do this by hand.

Noted with loads of thanks 

I will follow your advice

do we put them as nominals or ordinals?