Hello Wang,
Learning SPSS is easier than Python and Stata. Stata and Python are both programming languages, but STATA, as its name implies, is focused on statistical analysis. On the other hand, Python is more flexible, promising, and offering additional advantages such as enhanced data visualization and graphic libraries.
Furthermore, if you choose to learn Python:
(a) you will be using an open-source programming language,
(b) you won't need additional programs for structural equation models (e.g., Amos, Smart PLS),
(c) you won't have to redo all analyses for each additional dataset, (d) you will be able to publish your code script with your data to make your study reproducible,
(e) aligning your study with open science practices.
(f) Python is more frequently used in industry and other fields.
In summary, if you are planning to learn a general-purpose programming language for diverse tasks, I recommend Python. If you are seeking an easy-to-learn and use program, you can choose SPSS."
Hope it helps you, good luck!
The choice of software to learn depends on your specific goals and interests. Here's a brief overview of each option:
If you're primarily interested in statistical analysis, SPSS or Stata might be good starting points, depending on the specific requirements of your field. However, if you're looking to develop a more general and versatile skill set, learning Python would be a valuable choice. Python's extensive libraries and wide range of applications make it a powerful tool for data analysis and much more.
Hello wang,
As a researcher I would like to give you the straight answer because once I was also stuck to the same situation.
SPSS and STATA is like constraining yourself with limitations without learning coding skills. You will get things done easily. But with python, there is huge ocean ahead. Learn and learn. It has huge number of libraries. Also, if you opt for python then you also must go with learning R.
Hi Wang,
Even though learning python can take some time, It's very convenient for a lot of things ( object-oriented code, graphs, file reading etc...). Moreover, once u are proficient on Python, you can build on what you already know using specifics modules for instance, no need to switch to another software.
Python first, hands down. Why? You can do more with it beyond statistics than other software, and you want to use software to make your life easier. Trust. Check out automatetheboringstuff.com and then branch out from there. Plenty of YouTube help as well. You're also best off learning R for statistics. Many similarities with Python. Don't both with SPSS as the ceiling is way too low, especially once you move into multilevel models.
If you are starting from zero, go with Python and the book "How to Think Like a Computer Scientist".
When you will have more specific tasks to perform, then you might want to learn more specialized software, be it STATA, Matlab, R, or whatever: and by then, you will already have a solid programming formation from Python (not just in Python).
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