Master Techniques for Efficient Day-To-Day Use of Stata

Stata is a useful statistical software package that keeps data in memory. It is fast and flexible with excellent manuals when compared with the other software. Stata becomes easy to use when you know three things - techniques, commands, and graphs.

• Advanced Techniques

  When learning Stata, you will gain experience in advanced techniques such as standard methods like ANOVA/MANOVA, linear and generalized linear modes (GLM), cluster analysis, and regressions with a count. You will also learn about techniques such as survival modes, generalized estimating equations (GEE), summary statistics, basic tabulations, and ARIMA among others.

• Commands

  You need to be aware of the diverse data management commands to control the diverse types of data. You need to master how to collect statistics from groups. manage variables, combine and reshape datasets. You have to be acquainted with advanced tools if you want to manage specialized data like time series data, categorical data, survey data, survival data.

• Graphs

  Stata makes it possible to generate high-quality and styled graphs such as contour plots, time-series graphs, distributional plots, regression fit graphs, and survival plots among others. You will be able to export graphs in many formats such as EPS for publication, PDF for viewing, and PNG for the web. Stata’s Graph Editor will allow you to make adjustments such as adding arrows, notes, titles, and text.

STATA Basics

You will also need to master Stata basics such as

• Reading In Stata Format(.dta) Data Files

  You need to be aware that Stata data files will always have a .dta extension.

• Importing Text Or Excel Data Files Into Stata

  To import an Excel file, you will click on the file, go to import then Excel spreadsheet. A new window will pop up. Click on browse and go to where the document or data file is saved, click on open.

• Saving a Dataset in Stata Format

  Learn to save files and if you make an adjustment, save the modified dataset separately in a new data file.

Hope this article helps you in your day-to-day interaction with Stata.