mcfarland, stata1.txt         


Selected STATA Commands


* Stata online help

lookup   frequencies            (topic)
help  tabulate                  (stata command)
(Note:  Type space, enter, or q in response to --more-- prompt)


* Session Preliminaries

dir e:\S210a\                   (where e: is the Zip drive)
log  using  e:yymmddss.log      (suggested log file name for
                                session ss on day dd, month mm, 
                                year yy)
	

* Load a Stata-format dataset into memory (if you already have
the data that way)

use e:\hamilton\canada2.dta


* Load selected variables of a Stata-format dataset into memory

use   educ income91 age     using     e:\S210a\gss94.dta


* Load a raw ascii text file dataset into memory, and save it in
Stata format

infile   rincome educ sex tithing year   using   e:\S210a\icpsr1.txt
save     e:\S210a\icpsr1.dta
(Note:   Tithing was 1987-89 only, not in gss94.dta.)


* Type a new (small) dataset into stata

edit
save e:\S210a\wstates.dta


* Examine the dataset in memory

describe
summarize


* Examine a particular variable, compare frequencies with
codebook

tabulate rincom91


* Recode missing data

replace rincom91 = . if rincom91 == 0
replace rincom91 = . if rincom91 > 21
(Beware, rincom91 codes 0 and 22 have unexpected meanings.)


* Examine a particular variable whose codebook frequencies are
grouped 

tabulate age
generate age_temp = int(age/10)
tabulate age_temp
tabulate age_temp , missing
drop age_temp
(Note:  Arithmetic on . yields . for answer.)

or for unequal intervals:
generate tith_temp = 1
replace tith_temp = 2 if tithing > 250
replace tith_temp = 3 if tithing > 500
replace tith_temp = 4 if tithing > 1000
replace tith_temp = 5 if tithing > 9999
replace tith_temp = . if tithing > 99994
tabulate tith_temp , missing
drop tith_temp
(Beware: comparison > treats . as a very large number.)


* Examine shape of a variable's distribution, via frequency table
and histogram.  Calculate summary statistics and assess their 
appropriateness.

tabulate partners
graph  affrmact 
graph  tvhours
summarize partners affrmact tvhours


* End session

save
log close
exit, clear