Transform...Recode Into Different Variables

SPSS offers two choices under the recode command: Into Same Variable and Into Different Variables. The command Into Same Variable replaces existing data with new values, but the command Into Different Variables adds a new variable to the data set. In almost every situation, we suggest selecting Into Different Variables. Because recoding Into Same Variables replaces the values in the existing variable, it will irrevocably alter a data set, threatening your access to the original data. For these reasons, it is best to not recode over an an existing variable unless you are absolutely confident that the lost information will never be needed.