Overview
Upper-level courses, economists, and many business careers use statistical software to organize, analyze, and visualize data. This guide provides resources to help you learn and improve your skills in the most common software: Stata, R, and Python.
Learn to use statistical software
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LinkedIn Learning
Access all LinkedIn Learning trainings by logging in with your BYU email address. Then search for the software you want to learn. -
Sage Research Methods: Datasets
Select the Datasets option and search for the software or analysis method of interest to find examples and how-to guides. -
Berkley Dictionary of Statistics
Understand terminology and concepts used in statistical analysis.
Books
Stata
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Stata
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Stata is one of the most popular statistical software in the world and suited for all kinds of users, from absolute beginners to experienced veterans. This book offers a clear and concise introduction to the usage and the workflow of Stata. Included topics are importing and managing datasets, cleaning and preparing data, creating and manipulating variables, producing descriptive statistics and meaningful graphs as well as central quantitative methods, like linear (OLS) and binary logistic regressions and matching. Additional information about diagnostical tests ensures that these methods yield valid and correct results that live up to academic standards. Furthermore, users are instructed how to export results that can be directly used in popular software like Microsoft Word for seminar papers and publications. Lastly, the book offers a short yet focussed introduction to scientific writing, which should guide readers through the process of writing a first quantitative seminar paper or research report. The book underlines correct usage of the software and a productive workflow which also introduces aspects like replicability and general standards for academic writing. While absolute beginners will enjoy the easy to follow point-and-click interface, more experienced users will benefit from the information about do-files and syntax which makes Stata so popular. Lastly, a wide range of user-contributed software (,,Ados") is introduced which further improves the general workflow and guarantees the availability of state of the art statistical methods.
ISBN: 9783110617290Publication Date: 2019 -
Microeconometrics Using Stata
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Learn how to run cross-sectional and panel regression models in Stata.
ISBN: 9781597183611Publication Date: 2022
R
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The R Book
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A start-to-finish guide to one of the most useful programming languages for researchers in a variety of fields In the newly revised Third Edition of The R Book, a team of distinguished teachers and researchers delivers a user-friendly and comprehensive discussion of foundational and advanced topics in the R software language, which is used widely in science, engineering, medicine, economics, and other fields. The book is designed to be used as both a complete text--readable from cover to cover--and as a reference manual for practitioners seeking authoritative guidance on particular topics. This latest edition offers instruction on the use of the RStudio GUI, an easy-to-use environment for those new to R. It provides readers with a complete walkthrough of the R language, beginning at a point that assumes no prior knowledge of R and very little previous knowledge of statistics. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to fundamental concepts in statistics and step-by-step roadmaps to their implementation in R; Comprehensive explorations of worked examples in R; A complementary companion website with downloadable datasets that are used in the book; In-depth examination of essential R packages. Perfect for undergraduate and postgraduate students of science, engineering, medicine economics, and geography, The R Book will also earn a place in the libraries of social sciences professionals.
ISBN: 9781119634430Publication Date: 2022
Python
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The Python workbook: A brief introduction with exercises and solutions
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ISBN: 9783031845604Publication Date: 2025
Accessing Stata & Stata Files
- All BYU Library and WVB computers have Stata downloaded automatically. Note that files saved on the hard drive will be deleted when the user logs out.
- To use BYU’s Stata subscription on your own computer or from home, go to cloudapps.byu.edu, log in, and search for Stata. Note that running this version of Stata can be slow and cumbersome.
- Save files you want to access in Stata in Box, BYU's cloud storage platform. This allows you to use them on campus or from home.
Troubleshooting Code
General
If you’re not sure why the code isn’t working, read through it carefully and watch for small mistakes like misspellings, incorrect formatting, missing characters, or extra spaces. Still having issues? Schedule an appointment with Maggie or a meeting with the Econ TAs.
Stata
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Use the "help" command along with the command you are using. For example help generate to view the Stata documentation.
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When reading Stata’s help documentation, the syntax is as follows: regular text is required within the command, italics represent code that the user must input, (parenthesis) represent separate parts of the code, [brackets] are optional additions to the code
R
- Access the R command documentation by running a question mark before the command name. For example, ?merge.
- R packages and commands often come with vignettes, which are helpful examples that demonstrate how the package can be applied and adapted.
Python
- Search the Python documentation.
- There are many support resources for Python, so a Google search of the command or error is often a quick solution.
Additional Stata Resources
Knowing the basic syntax of Stata will help immensely in the long run. Find the tutorial style (video, instruction set, website) that works best for your learning strategy. Try a Google search of anything that doesn’t make sense.
Beginner
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Stata Youtube Channel
Check out the recommended videos and playlists listed below.
Intermediate
Advanced
