1. SPSS will initially put you into a NEW DATA screen. Enter the data as 3 variables (columns): group (where 1-Calcium 2-Placebo), beginning blood pressure, ending blood pressure values.  Or download from excel file MM719.xls
1 107 100
1 110 114
1 123 105
1 129 112
1 112 115
1 111 116
1 107 106
1 112 102
1 136 125
1 102 104
2 123 124
2 109   97
2 112 113
2 130 133
2 102 105
2   98   95
2 114 119
2 119 114
2 112 114
2 110 121
2 117 118
If you want to name the variable, switch the tab at the lower left of data screen from DATA VIEW to VARIABLE VIEW and give it a NAME (eg. group) and LABEL (longer name, more than 8 characters-e.g. treatment group). You can assign value labels by clicking on VALUES, then click on the small gray box. This will bring up a small screen where you can put 1 for value, Calcium for value label, click on ADD, then put 2 for the next value, Placebo for the next value label, then click on ADD and CONTINUE. You only give value labels to categorical variables. When you are done entering data, select FILE/SAVE AS and save the data into a:ttest.sav.. The extension .sav indicates it is a data file that can ONLY be read by SPSS.

2. To compute a new variable use TRANSFORM / COMPUTE and call the new TARGET VARIABLE decrease and in the NUMERIC EXPRESSION type begin - end. Then select CONTINUE. The new variable will appear on the SPSS dataset.

3. To run the t-test, use ANALYZE / COMPARE MEANS /INDEPENDENT SAMPLES T TEST and move over begin and decrease over to TEST VARIABLEs and group to GROUPING VARIABLE. Then DEFINE GROUPS. Give the codes for the GROUPING VARIABLE -- in this case, 1 and 2 and select CONTINUE. Then click OK and examine the output.

4. To print the output, choose Print under File. You can save the SPSS output file with the SAVE AS command under File, but name with a .spo extension so that you know it is output and not a data file. For example, you could name the output from the scores data as a:ttest.spo.  SPO files can only be read by SPSS.  You can export the output to either .doc or .htm file using FILE/EXPORT and saving them so you can open them in Word, Excel or some other favorite program.  However, the appearance will be changed.