Scribd
Upload
73 views21 pages

Stata Mini-Course - Session 1

This document provides an introduction and overview of Stata. It discusses what Stata is used for, the basics of how to interact with and run commands in Stata, how to save commands in do files to make analysis reproducible, and how Stata interprets and works with data. It highlights using help files to learn Stata commands and introduces some general syntax rules. Homework is assigned to get familiar with opening do files, using basic commands, and writing simple programs in Stata. The goal is to feel comfortable with the basics of Stata and understanding how it operates.

Uploaded by

Juan Toapanta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
73 views21 pages

Stata Mini-Course - Session 1

This document provides an introduction and overview of Stata. It discusses what Stata is used for, the basics of how to interact with and run commands in Stata, how to save commands in do files to make analysis reproducible, and how Stata interprets and works with data. It highlights using help files to learn Stata commands and introduces some general syntax rules. Homework is assigned to get familiar with opening do files, using basic commands, and writing simple programs in Stata. The goal is to feel comfortable with the basics of Stata and understanding how it operates.

Uploaded by

Juan Toapanta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 21

L1: INTRODUCTION

Getting started with Stata


Angela Ambroz
May 2015
Today
•  Admin
•  What is Stata?
•  Basics of the basics
Admin
•  3 lectures
•  Homework assignment for each lecture
•  Course website: www.angelaambroz.com/stata.html
•  24/7 Support: Skype group chat – CUPCAKE PROMISE
•  Make sure you have Stata 10 on your computer
•  Confused? Interrupt me!

GOAL:
Not being scared/intimidated by Stata. Understanding
the basics of how Stata operates. Being able to write
and understand .do files.
Pre-course survey results
•  74% of you have used Stata before
•  53% of you knew what browse does
•  95% of you have used Excel
•  74% of you have used SPSS

I want to be able to conduct inferential statistics in


Stata (e.g. running regressions).
53% session 3

I want to be able to create summary statistics tables


in Stata.
26% session 2

I'm not sure yet, but I want to be exposed to Stata. 16% session 1

I want to be able to make graphics in Stata. 5%


not doing this (sorry)
Why do we use Stata?
Pros Cons
- Logistics: Easy to learn, - Working with very large
cross-platform, industry datasets (multiple GBs)
standard!
- Analysis: Many of our - Making graphs/tables is
most useful tools are built-in time-consuming (faster in
and ready to use (e.g. Excel)
power calcs)
- Reproducible research: - Pricey
Stata is command-driven,
saved in .do files
- Flexibility
The basics
How to talk to Stata
•  Stata has both a command-line and graphical user
interface
•  It uses a specific syntax, similar to programming
languages
•  Most people write commands in a .do file, save it, and
then run it
Graphical user interface
Command line interface
Save your commands: .do files
What is a .do file?
•  A .do file is a plain text file where you save your Stata
commands.
•  It’s kind of like a mini program.
•  Saving commands in a .do file makes sure that your work
is reproducible and understandable.
•  Added bonus: you can do and save your analysis in a .do
file without altering the dataset! (unlike Excel)
Three ways to do the same thing
Use the drop-down menus

SUMMARY
RAW DATA Type everything in the STATISTICS
Command Editor OF DATA

Prepare a .do file, save it, run it


Word to the wise

Best practice

Test ideas in the


Command Editor window

Do your analysis (and save


it!) in a .do file!
How does Stata see data?
•  Stata won’t show you the data unless you explicitly ask
it (via browse)
•  Data can be either:
•  numeric: -1, 0.31495, 30000
•  string:“Angela”, “ Dar es Salaam”,
“1,000”, “1/4”, “ ”
•  Encoded: 100 (“Dar es Salaam”)
•  Missing values show up as . (numeric) and “ ” (string)
How does Stata see data?

Variables Values Labels


The questions in your The answers in your Meta-data on your
questionnaire questionnaire questions and answers
How to talk to Stata (via commands)
•  There are thousands* of official Stata commands
•  There are hundreds* of unofficial, user-written Stata
commands (.ado)
•  There is no point in trying to memorize a lot of
commands – this is a giant waste of time
•  Instead, memorize only one:

help

* I think, I’m not actually sure.


How to use “help”
You type help browse, and Stata will open this:

A key Stata skill:


Learning how to
read and understand
“help” files
General syntax structure
•  Stata’s commands following programming conventions.
•  As such, they use logic symbols (&, <, >, etc.)
•  Variable names never have spaces
•  Variable names never start with numbers
•  Strings always have “quotes around them”
•  All commands can be shortened:

generate
browse
tabulate
General syntax structure: Logic symbols
This… means this… Example

+ Add, subtract,
- multiply, divide
*
/
= Assignment generate weekly_amount = daily_average
* 7
== Equals browse if region==“Dar es Salaam”

!= Does not equal browse if region!=“Dar es Salaam”

>=, <=, Greater/Less browse if age<=5


>, < than
& And browse if age<=5 & gender==“Female”

| Or browse if party==“CHADEMA” |
party==“CUF”
In-class exercise

Let’s now take 5-10 minutes, and


translate this into English:

gen adult_respondent=1 if
age>=18 & name!=“”

hint: help...
Homework
•  homework1-1.do - Read and explain a simple .do file
(written by someone else)
•  homework1-2 (online Google form) – Practice writing
and running some simple commands
•  Goal:
•  To be able to open a .do file
•  To get familiar with the different windows in Stata
•  To be able to use and understand the “help” command
•  To start writing your first commands
•  Questions? E-mail/Skype.
•  Finished? E-mail me your .do file. Fill out the Google form.
•  DEADLINE: COB Monday, May 18, 2015

You might also like