Reading output, APA summaries and the syntax log
Each procedure adds a block to the Output with SPSS-style tables, footnotes, charts and an APA-style summary sentence; the Syntax log records every step as a readable command that can be re-run on new data.
How do I read a significance value?
“Sig.” is the p-value: the probability of results at least this extreme if there were really no effect. Below .05 is conventionally called significant. StatLab prints p below .001 as “<.001” — report it as p < .001. Always report an effect size too (d, η², r, V), because with large samples tiny effects become significant.
Can I paste the APA summary into my report?
It is a starting point that follows APA 7 number formatting (two decimals, no leading zero for values that cannot exceed 1, exact p values). Check that the wording matches your design and hypotheses before using it.
What is the syntax log?
Every import, transformation and analysis is written as a command (e.g. T-TEST GROUPS=gender(1 2) /VARIABLES=score.). “Run again” repeats one step; “Replay all” re-runs the whole sequence on the data currently open — useful when you receive an updated data file. Typing your own commands is planned.