This volume serves as the primary technical documentation and instructional guide for the SPSS 17.0 statistical software package. The authors, representing the development team at SPSS Inc., provide a comprehensive framework for utilizing the software's interface to perform complex data management and statistical analysis. The text outlines the operational procedures required to execute descriptive and inferential statistics within both Windows and Macintosh environments.

The subject matter points to a dense, specialist technical manual intended for researchers and students requiring direct operational guidance for the SPSS 17.0 software. The framing suggests a utilitarian approach, prioritizing procedural accuracy and software functionality over theoretical statistical discourse.