1. Lecture 1: Course Overview, Introduction to Stata Dr. Alexander Janus

2. Purpose of Course How to deal with statistical issues that arise in the analysis of real data. Two sets of issues:  Modelling categorical dependent variables.  Making inferences based on “imperfect” data.

3. Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe Based at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy. “SHARE.” Survey of more than 110,000 adults (220,000 interviews) aged 50 and over. We will be using the easySHARE data set.

4. Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe Respondents from 20 European countries and Israel (but not the United Kingdom) participated in SHARE.

5. Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe In terms of survey design, SHARE has both panel and cross-sectional aspects.

6. Topics Covered by SHARE

7. Overview of the Research Process TheoryHypothesisCollect DataSpecify a Model Test the Theory

8. Questions to Ask Yourself When Specifying a Model 1. What are my hypotheses? 2. What is the measurement level of the dependent variable? 3. Is the sample a simple random sample? If not, what are the issues? 4. What is my approach to estimating causal effects?

9. Questions to Ask Yourself When Specifying a Model 1. What are my hypotheses? 2. What is the measurement level of the dependent variable? 3. Is the sample a simple random sample? If not, what are the issues? 4. What is my approach to estimating causal effects?

10. 2. Measurement Level of the Dependent Variable Continuous (ratio, interval) Ordinal Nominal Count

11. 3. Is the Sample a Simple Random Sample? Think about flipping a coin: Heads or Tails?

12. 3. Is the Sample a Simple Random Sample? A sample may not be an SRS for two reasons:  Missing data and nonresponse.  Complex sample designs.  Multistage area probability samples.  Stratified probability samples.

13. Course Organization: Lectures

14. Course Organization: Tutorials

15. Readings 3 copies on HUB SHORT LOAN. £29.64 on Amazon marketplace. 1 copy on HUB RESERVE. £47.49 through Amazon Prime.

16. Popular among academic social scientists, especially sociologists. Less used in government and the private sector. Powerful and refined. Hybrid open source/closed source creation model. Excellent teaching tool—well-written documentation, flexible and user-friendly interface. Relatively inexpensive ($189 for Stata/IC).

17. Assessments 1.50% -- 8 out of 10 multiple choice mini-assessments. These will be administered during the first 5 minutes of class in weeks 2-5 and weeks 7-12. 2.50% -- A quantitative data analysis project, in three parts, to be completed during the last six weeks of class.

18. Office Hours Alex: Mondays, 3.10-5.00, during the semester in CMB 6.20. Justyna: By appointment