spss

Where to find this software at Wellesley

SPSS may be installed on student, faculty, and staff computers connected to the Wellesley network. A version of SPSS is also available on all classroom, computing lab and residence hall computers. This application is controlled by a license manager and cannot be used without a connection to the Wellesley College Network.

System Requirements (must be logged in as an administrator on the computer)
 

If you are using MacOS 10.14 Sonoma, please use SPSS 29.  Otherwise, use SPSS 28.


SPSS installation

  1. If off campus, use the VPN to connect to vpn.wellesley.edu; if on campus, connect to the Wellesley Secure WiFi.
     
  2. Get the installers
    1. Connect to the academicstore server using your Wellesley username and password
      (you may need to enter wellesley\username instead of just your username)
      • on a Mac, in the Finder's Go menu, Connect to server, copy and paste smb://academicstore/software
      • on a Windows PC: use  click  windows home button Start or Run, then copy and paste \\academicstore\software
        (Note: this is not a web address, so don't use a web browser to find this)

        TIPS if you have trouble accessing the installer
         

    2. Open the folder containing the installer: facstaffstudents, then SPSS
      It may take a moment for the folders to appear
    3. If using MacOS Sonoma, open the v29 folder. Otherwise, open the v28 folder.
    4. Drag the appropriate Mac or Windows folder to your computer's desktop
    5. Watch the progress of the download, which will take longer on some computers for the installer, as it is very large
    6. If you are unable to copy the installer, see troubleshooting tips below
  3. Run the installers
    • Sometimes iCloud will give a warning during install. It can be ignored - just click OK.
    • Choose whether to install Python based on your SPSS needs (check with your professor if unsure, or omit that install and do that later if needed)
    • At the end, it prompts to run SPSS; do that
    1. ​Disconnet the academicstore - software connection to be sure the copying is done, if you aren't sure
    2. Double-click on the Mac or Windows folder on your desktop
    3. Double-click on the installer
    4. Follow the instructions on the screen, clicking through the installation as with any installer, watching for the following. Note that these may not be listed in the order they appear.
  4. If it says you need to restart the computer, make sure any work you have open is saved and restart.
  5. ​Launch SPSS on the Windows or Mac computer, if you didn't do so as part of the installation.
  6. You'll be prompted for license information, and you need to point it to our license manager. ​​
    1. If prompted, launch the license wizard and click Next even if shown you have no licenses
    2. Select License TypeConcurrent user license
    3. Type, for the License ServerLM-spss.wellesley.edu
    4. If asked, Customer Information:
      User Name:          Your UserName
      Organization:        Wellesley College

Troubleshooting tips

  • If you are unable to connect to academicstore > software to get the installer, please review the steps above carefully and try the tips linked there. 
  • If your Mac login is not an Admin account, but a Standard account, SPSS will not be installed properly
    • Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, Click Users & Groups
    • Click the lock icon to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password
    • Select the standard user in the list, then select “Allow user to administer this computer”
  • Make sure you are on the Wellesley Secure network on campus, or using vpn.wellesley.edu in Cisco AnyConnect if off campus
  • If SPSS complains about licensing, quit SPSS, launch the SPSS Statistics Licensing Wizard (in the same folder: /Applications/IBM) and enter the License info there before first launch of SPSS Statistics.
    (License Type: Concurrent user licenseLicense Server: LM-spss.wellesley.edu).

Getting Started

Launching SPSS
 
On a Mac, use Spotlight to find it, or open
Macintosh HD > Applications > IBM SPSS Statistics > SPSS Statistics
On a Windows PC, click Start and start typing SPSS Statistics
 
Remember that this is an on-campus (or VPN) only, network licensed software and only a certain number of computers can use the program at one time. Please quit from SPSS when it is not in use.
 
If you have trouble launching SPSS, see the troubleshooting tips above.