Stata for the Behavioral Sciences

Stata for the Behavioral Sciences, by Michael Mitchell, is the ideal reference for researchers using Stata to fit ANOVA models and other models commonly applied to behavioral science data. Drawing on his education in psychology and his experience in consulting, Mitchell uses terminology and examples familiar to the reader as he demonstrates how to fit a variety of models, how to interpret results, how to understand simple and interaction effects, and how to explore results graphically.

 

Although this book is not designed as an introduction to Stata, it is appealing even to Stata novices. Throughout the text, Mitchell thoughtfully addresses any features of Stata that are important to understand for the analysis at hand. He also is careful to point out additional resources such as related videos from Stata’s YouTube channel.

 

The book is divided into five sections.

 

The first section contains a chapter that introduces Stata commands for descriptive statistics and another that covers basic inferential statistics such as one- and two-sample t tests.

 

The second section focuses on between-subjects ANOVA modeling. The discussion moves from one-way ANOVA models to ANCOVA models to two-way and three-way ANOVA models. In each case, special attention is given to the use of commands such as contrast and margins for testing specific hypotheses of interest. Mitchell also emphasizes the understanding of interactions through contrasts and graphs. Underscoring the importance of planning any experiment, he discusses power analysis for t tests, for one- and two-way ANOVA models, and for ANCOVA models.

 

Section three of the book extends the discussion in the previous section to models for repeated-measures data and for longitudinal data.

 

The fourth section of the book illustrates the use of the regress command for fitting multiple regression models. Mitchell then turns his attention to tools for formatting regression output, for testing assumptions, and for model building. This section ends with a discussion of power analysis for simple, multiple, and nested regression models.

 

The final section has a tone that differs from the first four. Rather than focusing on a particular type of analysis, Mitchell describes elements of Stata. He first discusses estimation commands and similarities in syntax from command to command. Then, he details a set of postestimation commands that are available after most estimation commands. Another chapter provides an overview of data management commands. This section ends with a chapter that will be of particular interest to anyone who has used IBM® SPSS®; it lists commonly used SPSS® commands and provides equivalent Stata syntax.

 

This book is an easy-to-follow guide to analyzing data using Stata for researchers in the behavioral sciences and a valuable addition to the bookshelf of anyone interested in applying ANOVA methods to a variety of experimental designs.

 

© Copyright 1996–2023 StataCorp LLC

Acknowledgments
List of tables
List of figures
Preface (PDF)

 

I Warming up

 

1 Introduction

1.1 Read me first!

1.1.1 Downloading the example datasets and programs
1.1.2 Other user-written programs

The fre command
The esttab command
The extremes command

1.2 Why use Stata?

1.2.1 ANOVA
1.2.2 Supercharging your ANOVA
1.2.3 Stata is economical
1.2.4 Statistical powerhouse
1.2.5 Easy to learn
1.2.6 Simple and powerful data management
1.2.7 Access to user-written programs
1.2.8 Point and click or commands: Your choice
1.2.9 Powerful yet simple
1.2.10 Access to Stata source code
1.2.11 Online resources for learning Stata
1.2.12 And yet there is more!

1.3 Overview of the book

1.3.1 Part I: Warming up
1.3.2 Part II: Between-subjects ANOVA models
1.3.3 Part III: Repeated measures and longitudinal models
1.3.4 Part IV: Regression models
1.3.5 Part V: Stata overview
1.3.6 The GSS dataset
1.3.7 Language used in the book
1.3.8 Online resources for this book

1.4 Recommended resources and books

1.4.1 Getting started
1.4.2 Data management in Stata
1.4.3 Reproducing your results
1.4.4 Recommended Stata Press books

 

2 Descriptive statistics
2.1 Chapter overview
2.2 Using and describing the GSS dataset
2.3 One-way tabulations
2.4 Summary statistics
2.5 Summary statistics by one group
2.6 Two-way tabulations
2.7 Cross-tabulations with summary statistics
2.8 Closing thoughts

 

3 Basic inferential statistics
3.1 Chapter overview
3.2 Two-sample t tests
3.3 Paired sample t tests
3.4 One-sample t tests
3.5 Two-sample test of proportions
3.6 One-sample test of proportions
3.7 Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact test
3.8 Correlations
3.9 Immediate commands

3.9.1 Immediate test of two means
3.9.2 Immediate test of one mean
3.9.3 Immediate test of two proportions
3.9.4 Immediate test of one proportion
3.9.5 Immediate cross-tabulations

3.10 Closing thoughts

 

II Between-subjects ANOVA models

 

4 One-way between-subjects ANOVA
4.1 Chapter overview
4.2 Comparing two groups using a t test
4.3 Comparing two groups using ANOVA

4.3.1 Computing effect sizes

4.4 Comparing three groups using ANOVA

4.4.1 Testing planned comparisons using contrast
4.4.2 Computing effect sizes for planned comparisons

4.5 Estimation commands and postestimation commands
4.6 Interpreting confidence intervals
4.7 Closing thoughts

 

5 Contrasts for a one-way ANOVA
5.1 Chapter overview
5.2 Introducing contrasts

5.2.1 Computing and graphing means
5.2.2 Making contrasts among means
5.2.3 Graphing contrasts
5.2.4 Options with the margins and contrast commands
5.2.5 Computing effect sizes for contrasts
5.2.6 Summary

5.3 Overview of contrast operators
5.4 Compare each group against a reference group

5.4.1 Selecting a specific contrast
5.4.2 Selecting a different reference group
5.4.3 Selecting a contrast and reference group

5.5 Compare each group against the grand mean

5.5.1 Selecting a specific contrast

5.6 Compare adjacent means

5.6.1 Reverse adjacent contrasts
5.6.2 Selecting a specific contrast

5.7 Comparing with the mean of subsequent and previous levels

5.7.1 Comparing with the mean of previous levels
5.7.2 Selecting a specific contrast

5.8 Polynomial contrasts
5.9 Custom contrasts
5.10 Weighted contrasts
5.11 Pairwise comparisons
5.12 Closing thoughts

 

6 Analysis of covariance
6.1 Chapter overview
6.2 Example 1: ANCOVA with an experiment using a pretest
6.3 Example 2: Experiment using covariates
6.4 Example 3: Observational data

6.4.1 Model 1: No covariates
6.4.2 Model 2: Demographics as covariates
6.4.3 Model 3: Demographics, socializing as covariates
6.4.4 Model 4: Demographics, socializing, health as covariates

6.5 Some technical details about adjusted means

6.5.1 Computing adjusted means: Method 1
6.5.2 Computing adjusted means: Method 2
6.5.3 Computing adjusted means: Method 3
6.5.4 Differences between method 2 and method 3
6.5.5 Adjusted means: Summary

6.6 Closing thoughts

 

7 Two-way factorial between-subjects ANOVA
7.1 Chapter overview
7.2 Two-by-two models: Example 1

7.2.1 Simple effects
7.2.2 Estimating the size of the interaction
7.2.3 More about interaction
7.2.4 Summary

7.3 Two-by-three models

7.3.1 Example 2

Simple effects
Simple contrasts
Partial interaction
Comparing optimism therapy with traditional therapy

7.3.2 Example 3

Simple effects
Partial interactions

7.3.3 Summary

7.4 Three-by-three models: Example 4

7.4.1 Simple effects
7.4.2 Simple contrasts
7.4.3 Partial interaction
7.4.4 Interaction contrasts
7.4.5 Summary

7.5 Unbalanced designs
7.6 Interpreting confidence intervals
7.7 Closing thoughts

 

8 Analysis of covariance with interactions
8.1 Chapter overview
8.2 Example 1: IV has two levels

8.2.1 Question 1: Treatment by depression interaction
8.2.2 Question 2: When is optimism therapy superior?
8.2.3 Example 1: Summary

8.3 Example 2: IV has three levels

8.3.1 Questions 1a and 1b

Question 1a
Question 1b

8.3.2 Questions 2a and 2b

Question 2a
Question 2b

8.3.3 Overall interaction
8.3.4 Example 2: Summary

8.4 Closing thoughts

 

9 Three-way between-subjects analysis of variance
9.1 Chapter overview
9.2 Two-by-two-by-two models

9.2.1 Simple interactions by season
9.2.2 Simple interactions by depression status
9.2.3 Simple effects

9.3 Two-by-two-by-three models

9.3.1 Simple interactions by depression status
9.3.2 Simple partial interaction by depression status
9.3.3 Simple contrasts
9.3.4 Partial interactions

9.4 Three-by-three-by-three models and beyond

9.4.1 Partial interactions and interaction contrasts
9.4.2 Simple interactions
9.4.3 Simple effects and simple contrasts

9.5 Closing thoughts

 

10 Supercharge your analysis of variance (via regression)
10.1 Chapter overview
10.2 Performing ANOVA tests via regression
10.3 Supercharging your ANOVA

10.3.1 Complex surveys
10.3.2 Homogeneity of variance
10.3.3 Robust regression
10.3.4 Quantile regression

10.4 Main effects with interactions: anova versus regress
10.5 Closing thoughts

 

11 Power analysis for analysis of variance and covariance
11.1 Chapter overview
11.2 Power analysis for a two-sample t test

11.2.1 Example 1: Replicating a two-group comparison
11.2.2 Example 2: Using standardized effect sizes
11.2.3 Estimating effect sizes
11.2.4 Example 3: Power for a medium effect
11.2.5 Example 4: Power for a range of effect sizes
11.2.6 Example 5: For a given N, compute the effect size
11.2.7 Example 6: Compute effect sizes given unequal Ns

11.3 Power analysis for one-way ANOVA

11.3.1 Overview

Hypothesis 1. Traditional therapy versus control
Hypothesis 2: Optimism therapy versus control
Hypothesis 3: Optimism therapy versus traditional therapy Summary of hypotheses

11.3.2 Example 7: Testing hypotheses 1 and 2
11.3.3 Example 8: Testing hypotheses 2 and 3
11.3.4 Summary

11.4 Power analysis for ANCOVA

11.4.1 Example 9: Using pretest as a covariate
11.4.2 Example 10: Using correlated variables as covariates

11.5 Power analysis for two-way ANOVA

11.5.1 Example 11: Replicating a two-by-two analysis
11.5.2 Example 12: Standardized simple effects
11.5.3 Example 13: Standardized interaction effect
11.5.4 Summary: Power for two-way ANOVA

11.6 Closing thoughts

 

III Repeated measures and longitudinal designs

 

12 Repeated measures designs
12.1 Chapter overview
12.2 Example 1: One-way within-subjects designs
12.3 Example 2: Mixed design with two groups
12.4 Example 3: Mixed design with three groups
12.5 Comparing models with different residual covariance structures
12.6 Example 1 revisited: Using compound symmetry
12.7 Example 1 revisited again: Using small-sample methods
12.8 An alternative analysis: ANCOVA
12.9 Closing thoughts

 

13 Longitudinal designs
13.1 Chapter overview
13.2 Example 1: Linear effect of time
13.3 Example 2: Interacting time with a between-subjects IV
13.4 Example 3: Piecewise modeling of time
13.5 Example 4: Piecewise effects of time by a categorical predictor

13.5.1 Baseline slopes
13.5.2 Treatment slopes
13.5.3 Jump at treatment
13.5.4 Comparisons among groups at particular days
13.5.5 Summary of example 4

13.6 Closing thoughts

 

IV Regression models

 

14 Simple and multiple regression
14.1 Chapter overview
14.2 Simple linear regression

14.2.1 Decoding the output
14.2.2 Computing predicted means using the margins command
14.2.3 Graphing predicted means using the marginsplot command

14.3 Multiple regression

14.3.1 Describing the predictors
14.3.2 Running the multiple regression model
14.3.3 Computing adjusted means using the margins command
14.3.4 Describing the contribution of a predictor

One-unit change
Multiple-unit change
Milestone change in units
One SD change in predictor
Partial and semipartial correlation

14.4 Testing multiple coefficients

14.4.1 Testing whether coefficients equal zero
14.4.2 Testing the equality of coefficients
14.4.3 Testing linear combinations of coefficients

14.5 Closing thoughts

 

15 More details about the regress command
15.1 Chapter overview
15.2 Regression options
15.3 Redisplaying results
15.4 Identifying the estimation sample
15.5 Stored results
15.6 Storing results
15.7 Displaying results with the estimates table command
15.8 Closing thoughts

 

16 Presenting regression results
16.1 Chapter overview
16.2 Presenting a single model
16.3 Presenting multiple models
16.4 Creating regression tables using esttab

16.4.1 Presenting a single model with esttab
16.4.2 Presenting multiple models with esttab
16.4.3 Exporting results to other file formats

16.5 More commands for presenting regression results

16.5.1 outreg
16.5.2 outreg2
16.5.3 xml_tab
16.5.4 coefplot

16.6 Closing thoughts

 

17 Tools for model building
17.1 Chapter overview
17.2 Fitting multiple models on the same sample
17.3 Nested models

17.3.1 Example 1: A simple example
17.3.2 Example 2: A more realistic example

17.4 Stepwise models
17.5 Closing thoughts

 

18 Regression diagnostics
18.1 Chapter overview
18.2 Outliers

18.2.1 Standardized residuals
18.2.2 Studentized residuals, leverage, Cook’s D
18.2.3 Graphs of residuals, leverage, and Cook’s D
18.2.4 DFBETAs and avplots
18.2.5 Running a regression with and without observations

18.3 Nonlinearity

18.3.1 Checking for nonlinearity graphically
18.3.2 Using scatterplots to check for nonlinearity
18.3.3 Checking for nonlinearity using residuals
18.3.4 Checking for nonlinearity using a locally weighted smoother
18.3.5 Graphing an outcome mean at each level of predictor
18.3.6 Summary
18.3.7 Checking for nonlinearity analytically

Adding power terms
Using factor variables

18.4 Multicollinearity
18.5 Homoskedasticity
18.6 Normality of residuals
18.7 Closing thoughts

 

19 Power analysis for regression
19.1 Chapter overview
19.2 Power for simple regression
19.3 Power for multiple regression
19.4 Power for a nested multiple regression
19.5 Closing thoughts

 

V Stata overview

 

20 Common features of estimation commands
20.1 Chapter overview
20.2 Common syntax
20.3 Analysis using subsamples
20.4 Robust standard errors
20.5 Prefix commands

20.5.1 The by: prefix
20.5.2 The nestreg: prefix
20.5.3 The stepwise: prefix
20.5.4 The svy: prefix
20.5.5 The mi estimate: prefix

20.6 Setting confidence levels
20.7 Postestimation commands
20.8 Closing thoughts

 

21 Postestimation commands
21.1 Chapter overview
21.2 The contrast command
21.3 The margins command

21.3.1 The at() option
21.3.2 Margins with factor variables
21.3.3 Margins with factor variables and the at() option
21.3.4 The dydx() option

21.4 The marginsplot command
21.5 The pwcompare command
21.6 Closing thoughts

 

22 Stata data management commands
22.1 Chapter overview
22.2 Reading data into Stata

22.2.1 Reading Stata datasets
22.2.2 Reading Excel workbooks
22.2.3 Reading comma-separated files
22.2.4 Reading other file formats

22.3 Saving data
22.4 Labeling data

22.4.1 Variable labels
22.4.2 A looping trick
22.4.3 Value labels

22.5 Creating and recoding variables

22.5.1 Creating new variables with generate
22.5.2 Modifying existing variables with replace
22.5.3 Extensions to generate egen
22.5.4 Recode

22.6 Keeping and dropping variables
22.7 Keeping and dropping observations
22.8 Combining datasets

22.8.1 Appending datasets
22.8.2 Merging datasets

22.9 Reshaping datasets

22.9.1 Reshaping datasets wide to long
22.9.2 Reshaping datasets long to wide

22.10 Closing thoughts

 

23 Stata equivalents of common IBM SPSS Commands
23.1 Chapter overview
23.2 ADD FILES
23.3 AGGREGATE
23.4 ANOVA
23.5 AUTORECODE
23.6 CASESTOVARS
23.7 COMPUTE
23.8 CORRELATIONS
23.9 CROSSTABS
23.10 DATA LIST
23.11 DELETE VARIABLES
23.12 DESCRIPTIVES
23.13 DISPLAY
23.14 DOCUMENT
23.15 FACTOR
23.16 FILTER
23.17 FORMATS
23.18 FREQUENCIES
23.19 GET FILE
23.20 GET TRANSLATE
23.21 LOGISTIC REGRESSION
23.22 MATCH FILES
23.23 MEANS
23.24 MISSING VALUES
23.25 MIXED
23.26 MULTIPLE IMPUTATION
23.27 NOMREG
23.28 PLUM
23.29 PROBIT
23.30 RECODE
23.31 RELIABILITY
23.32 RENAME VARIABLES
23.33 SAVE
23.34 SELECT IF
23.35 SAVE TRANSLATE
23.36 SORT CASES
23.37 SORT VARIABLES
23.38 SUMMARIZE
23.39 T-TEST
23.40 VALUE LABELS
23.41 VARIABLE LABELS
23.42 VARSTOCASES
23.43 Closing thoughts

 

References

 

© Copyright 1996–2023 StataCorp LLC

Author: Michael N. Mitchell
ISBN978-1-59718-173-0
©Copyright: 2015
e-Book version available

Stata for the Behavioral Sciences, by Michael Mitchell, is the ideal reference for researchers using Stata to fit ANOVA models and other models commonly applied to behavioral science data. Drawing on his education in psychology and his experience in consulting, Mitchell uses terminology and examples familiar to the reader as he demonstrates how to fit a variety of models, how to interpret results, how to understand simple and interaction effects, and how to explore results graphically.