In addition to statistical analysis, data management (case selection, file reshaping, creating derived data) and data documentation (a metadata dictionary is stored in the datafile) are features of the base software. The original SPSS manual (Nie, Bent & Hull, 1970) has been described as one of 'sociology's most influential books' for allowing ordinary researchers to do their own statistical analysis.

It is also used by market researchers, health researchers, survey companies, government, education researchers, marketing organizations, data miners, and others.

SPSS is a widely used program for statistical analysis in social science.