His endeavors led him to explore more sophisticated statistical analyses. Having to teach a statistics course in the mid 1990's led him to freshen up in various subfields of statistics. In recent years, he has been using factor analysis, clustering, logistic regression, survival analysis, panel models, and more. Hector's most frequent contributions to the SPSSX e-mail list have to do with data manipulation, clustering, weighting, Cox regression and factor analysis.

Hector claims not to be very good at macros and scripts, being indebted in those areas to the advice of experts such as Raynald Levesque. “Besides being pronounced "LeVEC",” Hector says, “Ray's surname means ‘the bishop,’ which I find quite appropriate for someone who is often acknowledged as an ultimate authority in the most difficult questions about data management debated by the SPSS worldwide congregation.”

Buenos Aires is a large city where taxis are cheap and easy to find. We took advantage of this while scurrying about, looking for photo opportunities and chatting. We also visited his beautiful apartment in the Belgrano district where I had the opportunity to meet his lovely wife Marta. The first part of the formal interview took place in his elegantly appointed home office.

King Douglas: Describe and explain your interest in SPSS.

Hector Maletta: I have needed statistical software all my life—SPSS happened to be my first one. From my youth, I have worked very much in quantitative methods in sociology and economics. My first publication was a small book on Latent Structure Analysis in 1970, and I had to spend long hours computing the numerical examples by hand or with the help of a clunky Olivetti programmable calculating machine that I do not dare to call a computer. I started working with SPSS shortly afterwards, about 30 years ago. My main use of SPSS has been in processing and analyzing surveys and census data.

King Douglas: How did you learn SPSS?

Hector Maletta: I learned it along the way. I read the manuals published by SPSS and one of the early books by Maria Norusis and little else. Somebody introduced me to the mainframe version of SPSS. I never got to use directly the mainframe version. In those days, you were not allowed to approach the machine. That remained a task for the programmer. But I learned to interact and the programmer taught me what the software did so I learned how to address my questions in a fashion that was useful for the programmer to deal with.

King Douglas: About how long have been using SPSS?

Hector Maletta: Thirty years, but I am a more intensive user since the PC version appeared in the 80’s. I think it was version 2 or 3.

King Douglas: What other statistics or data management applications do you use?

Hector Maletta: I have used sometimes STATA, sometimes Stat Graphics. SPSS is my primary tool. I am familiar with the language and the features, so I don’t have to learn another program.

King Douglas: So you take your laptop with you as your primary workhorse.

Hector Maletta: Yes. For the past twenty years I have been carrying, first, a Compaq portable computer, then a laptop. I bought my first portable computer in 1985, I think…my first modern laptop in 1990 or 1992.