Empirical Research: Getting Started with Stata

• Author: Daniel Tiong
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8462.12225
• Date: 01 June 2017
• Published date: 01 June 2017

For the Student

Empirical Research: Getting Started with Stata

Daniel Tiong*

Abstract

This article provides a guide to approaching

empirical research work for the f‌irst time, as

well as obtaining a foundation in the use of the

statistical software package, Stata. The empha-

sis revolves around data cleaning and its

importance in writing a good research essay. I

also cover a basic introduction to Stata, the

importance of do-f‌iles, common data problems

and good coding practice. In closing, I advise

that not everything in research needs to go to

plan, but that good research practice makes it

easier to adapt when plans do not work out.

1. Introduction

When beginning research work for the f‌irst

time, feeling overwhelmed is not an uncom-

mon occurrence. For example, the question of

where to start—or for that matter, where to

end—a research essay is not one that is easily

addressed in the coursework of a typical

undergraduate degree. In contrast to course-

work, research challenges one’s ability to be

critical and think ‘outside the box’; that is,

coming up with creative solutions to one’s

problems. Research is something that seems

daunting at f‌irst glance, but that should not be a

deterrent for those who are genuinely inter-

ested in answering questions about the world.

This is illustrated with the saying: ‘If we knew

what it was we were doing, it would not be

called research, would it?’

1

Consequently, not all research advice can be

describedas ‘one size f‌its all’. Advice that works

for someone may not work and/orbe applicable

to someone else.

2

In this vein, the focus of this

article is twofold. First, I present a general

overview of empirical research in Section 2. I

then follow this discussionwith an introduction

to the basics of the statistical software package,

Stata, in Section 3, with an emphasis on data

cleaning and management.Section 4 concludes

with some advice for good research practice.

2.Empirical Research

2.1Types of Research

Broadlyspeaking, a research paper falls into one

of three categories: theoretical, empirical and

mixed—the latter of which is a mixtureof the

f‌irst two.

* Department of Economics, The University of Melbourne,

Victoria 3010 Australia; email .

I would like to thank Mick Coelli and various anonymous

referees for helpful comments and suggestions which have

contributed greatly to this article.

The Australian Economic Review, vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 236–50

°

C2017 The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research

Published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd