Author Archives: Chang

Popularity of Data Analysis Software

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Chang

Robert A. Muenchen wrote a useful book, R for SAS and SPSS Users. He also authors a blog entry that he updates regularly, where he presents various ways of measuring the popularity or market share of data analysis software such … Continue reading →

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Data Life Cycle

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Chang

I have been collecting diagrams depicting the concept of Data Life Cycle (or Data Lifecycle) for some time. Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary (2012) defines “life cycle” (the third meaning) as: “a series of stages through which something passes during its lifetime.” … Continue reading →

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Let’s Keep the Virtuous Circle Going

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Chang

One way to understand the concept of the “Data Life Cycle” is to realize that there is a virtuous circle going between data and research findings: new data beget new findings and the new findings, new data collection, all the … Continue reading →

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Firm Data User Support for the Fragile Families Study

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Chang

For nearly 15 years now, researchers at Princeton and Columbia Universities have been collecting data from 20 cities on the lifestyles, health, and wellbeing of unmarried parents and their children. This ongoing project, known as the Fragile Families and Child … Continue reading →

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Demography Volume 48

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Chang

All four issues of Demography volume 48 (2011) are now published. As a data person, I am interested in the data the authors used for their research. Below is my attempt at summarizing what I have found out by reading … Continue reading →

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10,000

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Chang

On the evening of October the 3rd, the ten thousandth user* registered to access the OPR Data Archive. This is not as momentous as the world’s population reaching 7 billion people, but it is a moment to celebrate, nonetheless. The user … Continue reading →

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Learning Stata

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Chang

Each fall, around the beginning of a new school year, Chang gets a question about learning Stata, one of our fully supported statistical analysis software applications. How can I learn Stata fast and use it efficiently? Here are some starting … Continue reading →

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