Analyzing data from sample surveys

A sample survey is conducted to obtain information about the characteristics of a population. To reduce the cost and time necessary to collect the data, this task is often handled by selecting a subset (a sample) from the set of all measurements (the target population) of interest to the researchers. The methods that are used to select the sample add certain characteristics to the data. These characteristics must be incorporated into your analysis to get estimates concerning the entire population. There should be variables for each observation in your data set to identify each of the characteristics that are described next.

Stata has a well-developed and straightforward set of commands that allow you to adjust your analyses for the sample survey design effect. This section of the tutorial discusses how to use these survey data commands. The discussion is divided into:

• Data Characteristics
• Choosing the Correct Weight Syntax
• Commands to Analyze Survey Data
• Logistic Regression Analysis
• Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

(For a complete discussion of this topic, see Guidelines for Analyzing Add Health Data by Kim Chantala.